SEASON REVIEW: U18s PART TWO

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Take a look at the latter end of the U18s season...

2022-06-01T11:00:00.000Z

SEASON REVIEW: U18s PART TWO

Take a look at the latter end of the U18s season...

2022-06-01T11:00:00.000Z

Young Clarets pre-season plans confirmed

JANUARY

When the New Year came around, Tony Philliskirk’s young Clarets began with a trip to title holders and eventual champions once-more Manchester City.

Played out in the shadow of City’s Etihad Stadium, the hosts ran out 2-1 winners with Ruairi Behan Burnley’s goalscorer.

Then came a fourth round FA Youth Cup tie away at Liverpool, Sean Etaluku was on target as Philliskirk’s side bowed out of the competition with a 4-1 defeat.

The third and final test of the first month of 2022 was no easier in the form of high-flying Blackburn Rovers, who challenged for the title throughout the campaign. Striker Michael Mellon netted an equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Gawthorpe.

FEBRUARY

For the second time in less than a month, Burnley made the trip to the red half of Merseyside to kick off February. As in the FA Youth Cup, Liverpool ran out 4-1 winners with Etaluku the Clarets’ goalscorer.

February proved to be a sparse month game wise, so Philliskirk filled the void with friendlies against both Bradford City and AFC Wimbledon. Successes in both of those exhibition games proved useful with results taking an upturn as the league football resumed.

Stoke City were the first to be put to the sword by the young Clarets in the New Year competitively, midfielder Bauress at the double in a 3-1 victory including an effort from the halfway line.

MARCH

Burnley picked up where they had left off in March, going on to beat Newcastle 2-0 at home with a front pairing of Mellon and Eastmond both adding to their goal tallies.

Next up was a hard fought 1-0 victory in the North East at Middlesbrough, Will Couch the only scorer as some solid defending saw the Clarets through.

Completing the North East trio, a point was also picked up at Gawthorpe in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland.

APRIL

As the season entered its last quarter, Burnley still had plenty of matches left to play.

April didn’t get off to the best of starts with a heavy defeat at Leeds and a penalty shootout defeat to Blackpool in the semi-final of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup. Nottingham Forest also claimed three points with a last-minute goal in a 1-0 win on the young Clarets’ home patch.

However, from there on, the end of the season was very much a positive one for Philliskirk’s side. They rounded the penultimate month off in fine form.

Coming from behind, Couch headed home an 89th minute winner away at Blackburn in the East Lancashire derby while Northern Irish fullback Dane McCullough rifled home from 35 yards out seven days later as Burnley beat Manchester United 1-0 at Altrincham FC’s J. Davidson Stadium.

There was also time for another point to be put on the board in Merseyside, Couch again popping up with a late goal to earn a draw at Everton. Fellow midfielder Hugill then scored the only goal of the game at Gawthorpe against Wolves.

MAY

Just two games of the league season remained when May came around, and they were both to be played within the first week of the month.

First came already crowned champions Manchester City in the penultimate fixture. The Citizens raced into a 3-0 lead before a late fightback from the Clarets saw it finish 3-2. An edgy visiting side at the training ground saw out the game but had captain Rico Lewis sent off, a sign of how much Burnley had troubled them.

Ending the campaign on a high is always important, and Philliskirk’s side bounced back from that defeat to ensure their summer would be a pleasant one with a final day victory.

On the road for one last time at Derby County, they again summoned the character to come from behind having trailed at the interval. Striker Joe Westley had to bide his time with injury struggles, but he popped up with two goals in four second half minutes to turn things around in the Midlands.

Three points there saw a 7th place finish in the U18 Northern Premier League secured. Another new season now awaits for the next generation.