U18 REPORT: BLACKBURN ROVERS 1-2 BURNLEY

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Young Clarets grab late winner in East Lancashire derby

2022-04-12T16:09:17.916Z

U18 REPORT: BLACKBURN ROVERS 1-2 BURNLEY

Young Clarets grab late winner in East Lancashire derby

2022-04-12T16:09:17.916Z

Young Clarets grab late winner in East Lancashire derby

Tony Philliskirk’s youth team claimed the East Lancashire bragging rights with a 2-1 win away at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday afternoon (12th April).

Having trailed at the break, Lucas Wane came off the bench to level before Will Couch popped up with a header in the 89th minute to secure a comeback victory.

Boss Philliskirk made two changes to his young Clarets side from last Saturday’s narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest. Will Couch returned to the squad and started alongside striker Joe Smyth-Ferguson who came on from the bench against Forest.

The pair replaced Trevon Bryan - who dropped to the bench at Blackburn’s Brockhall training ground - and young forward Ryan Tioffo who missed out on the squad.

First Half

In an open start to the contest, Blackburn’s Harry Leonard fired over from inside the area before captain Dane McCullough did the same at the other end having received the ball from a corner.

Couch then met Ruairi Behan’s cross into the area with a glancing header on 25 minutes which went wide, with the hosts getting the ball back in play quickly and Harry Leonard heading home the opener less than 60 seconds later.

Before the break, centre back Benn Ward advanced on a mazy run from his own half to strike at goal, though the effort went just over.

Former Brighton and Hove Albion youngster Ward also had the ball in the back of the net on 43 minutes, sweeping home a corner, but saw the goal ruled out with Blackburn goalkeeper Felix Goddard judged to have been fouled in the build-up.

The final action of the half saw Kade Ratchford surge forward after a swift passing move and try his luck from range, again the shot going just wide of Goddard’s goal.

Second Half

At the restart, the contest became scrappy with Blackburn’s Georgie Gent seeing a free-kick from 30 yards out sail over Charlie Casper’s goal, while Ward again went close with a header at the other end on 62 minutes.

Not long after, Wane was introduced by boss Philliskirk and within four minutes, the change had paid off with a leveller. Joe Bauress fed the ball to Wane on the right edge of the area with the latter rifling home with a low drive.

Gent again fired over for Rovers while teammate Harrison Wood hit the outside of the post with an effort inside the box on the turn, before the winning moment for the young Clarets on 89 minutes.

Having seen a free-kick palmed behind for a corner, fullback McCullough whipped in a corner which Couch rose highest to meet and head past Goddard.

Following five minutes of added time, Burnley earned three points in the U18 Northern Premier League and with them, the bragging rights at youth level in East Lancashire.

Philliskirk’s side next return to action on Tuesday evening - 19th April - away against Manchester United. Played at Altrincham FC’s ground, the game will kick off at 7pm.

Burnley: Casper, McCullough (C), Ward, James, Williams, Behan (Grant ’63), Hugill, Bauress, Couch, Ratchford (Wane ’63), Smyth-Ferguson (Bryan ’72)

Unused Subs: Vilar Robinson, Olopade

Blackburn: Goddard, Montgomery, Gent, Gamble (C), Olson, Hadow, Macken O’Grady, Weston, Leonard, Wood, Munakandafa

Subs: Loureiro, Michalski, Caddick, Fyles, Chmiel

Goals: Leonard, ’25, Wane, ’67, Couch, ‘89.