U18 REPORT: BURNLEY 1–0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

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Young Clarets make it five unbeaten with late winner to beat Owls

2022-09-30T10:00:00.000Z

U18 REPORT: BURNLEY 1–0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Young Clarets make it five unbeaten with late winner to beat Owls

2022-09-30T10:00:00.000Z

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Tony Philliskirk’s youth team struck late to earn a 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday at the Burnley Training Centre, picking up three points in U18 Professional Development League action.

Polish youth international Wiktor Gromek’s opener in the 82nd minute proved the only goal of the game, and was enough for the young Clarets to make it five games unbeaten in all competitions.

The midfielder’s goal made it a successful few days on a personal level, having picked up a winners’ medal from the Lafarge Foot Avenir Tournament while away on international duty in France.

Boss Philliskirk again was able to involve some of the U16 group at youth-team level, with three named on the bench in Jon Ander Vilar Robinson, Jack McEvilly & Zach Johnson.

First Half

With kick-off moved back half-an-hour due to adverse weather conditions, both sides started slowly adapting to the howling wind & driving rain which swirled around the Burnley Training Centre.

The first real chance of note came on 24 minutes, and it fell the way of the visitors as forward Kamil Maclag fired an effort over the bar.

Both sides were still searching for the upper hand minutes later as a free-kick from Owls midfielder Rio Shipston followed but also flew well over from range, while the young Clarets had their first opportunity on 32 minutes as Gromek beat his man but could only guide an effort over the bar from 20 yards out.

Mackenzie Maltby – who had scored against the Clarets at U21 level a few weeks prior - had the last effort of opening 45 minutes with his driving run out of defence resulting in a shot that was dragged wide of Harry Moss’ far post, who remained untested.

Second Half

The conditions again took their toll on both sides at the restart, with neither team able to create a clear-cut opportunity early on.

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Brad Grant went close when a bouncing ball that the Owls failed to clear fell to him in the box, and he saw a shot blocked, before Nathan James’ follow up was met with another Owls body to prevent it bringing Wednesday shot stopper Pierce Charles into action.

Four minutes later Wednesday had an opportunity to break the deadlock with a free-kick on the edge of the area following a foul on midfielder Tafadzwa Tapudzai. Shipston again stepped up, though could only send his effort high and wide.

With 12 minutes to go, Burnley then thought they had the opener through striker Westley. He latched on to Grant’s cross from the left and tapped home, only for the offside flag to go up and the goal be ruled out.

U18 REPORT: BURNLEY 1–0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Image 3

But eight minutes before the end, the ball was in the back of the net once more and this time, it did count.

Defender James headed the ball down to Gromek from a set-piece, and the midfielder hammered made no mistake in drilling home past Charles to cap off a fantastic week for himself.

Visitors Wednesday would have one last attempt before the final whistle, with Jarvis Thornton finding space on the edge of the area, but only managing to fire over as three points were secured for the young Clarets on home soil.

Philliskirk’s side next return to action in the U18 Professional Development League Cup on Saturday, October 8, away against Blackpool.

Burnley: Moss, Olopade, James, Ashton, Grant, West, Gromek, Sime (Johnson ‘89), Wane (Vaughan ‘69), Westley, Tioffo

Unused Subs: Vilar Robinson, Sweeney, McEvilly

Sheffield Wednesday: Charles, Phuthi, Rodrigues, Maltby, Chapman, Flannery, Shipston, Tapudzai, Moses, Thornton, Maclag

Subs: Johnson, Phillips, Fernandes, Boben, Rhule

Goals: Gromek, ‘82