U18 REPORT: BURNLEY 4-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY

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Clarets cruise to victory against Blues in final game of season

2023-05-05T08:30:00.000Z

U18 REPORT: BURNLEY 4-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY

Clarets cruise to victory against Blues in final game of season

2023-05-05T08:30:00.000Z

Clarets cruise to victory against Blues in final game of season

Tony Philliskirk's U18s ended their season on a high as they put four past visitors Birmingham City in the Professional Development League at the Burnley Training Centre.

The Young Clarets took the lead after 9 minutes through Wiktor Gromek before Callum West added a second on the hour mark. Substitute Dylan Sime then volleyed home the third, and Rohan Vaughan slotted in from the penalty spot to seal a final-day victory in style.

Philliskirk made three changes to the side that lost to Cardiff City last time out, as Lewis Forshaw returned in goal, with Ryan Tioffo and Brad Grant also coming into the side.

First Half

Lucas Wane had the first chance of the game, as the ball found its way through to him and he struck on the half volley but saw his effort saved well by Birmingham goalkeeper Brad Mayo before Gromek headed wide Wane’s cross moments later.

U18 REPORT: BURNLEY 4-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY - Image 1

Soon after though, Burnley nudged in front when Philliskirk’s side did well to press the Blues backline oncemore and forced Mayo into an error that Gromek capitalised on to slot into an empty net.

A couple of half chances followed for the Young Clarets as Grant flashed a corner right across the face of goal, before Tioffo saw an effort blocked following Wane’s ball into the box in what was the final action of the opening 45.

Second Half

Burnley started the second half as well as they had ended the first, with Frankie Deane striking over from the edge of the area before Jack Rogers' driven strike met the same result.

The pressure eventually told with a second goal as Tioffo battled to win the ball back high up the field before playing through Grant who cut the ball back for West to run on to and finish under Mayo.

And after Jack Bates had gone close with a header, Sime - off the bench - met Wane’s looped delivery superbly on the back post, volleying back past Mayo into the top corner to add the Clarets third.

U18 REPORT: BURNLEY 4-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY - Image 2

Philliskirk's side continued to work hard and press high up the field, and after Vaughan won the ball back from Mayo, the Blues' shot stopper brought him down to deny what would've been a certain goal.

Nonetheless, Vaughan picked himself up to slot home from 12 yards out, rounding things off with the fourth goal in a one-sided contest as Burnley finished 7th in the Northern Section of the U18 Professional Development League.

Before the full-time whistle could come, Birmingham saw Menzi Mazwi sent off following a clash with Clarets midfielder Deane, though that was the last action of note.

Burnley: Forshaw, Sweeney (Tweedy '85), Bates, Otegbayo, Grant, Deane, Rogers, West, Wane, Gromek (Vaughan '68), Tioffo (Sime '69)

Unused Sub: Vilar Robinson

Birmingham City: Mayo, Pendleton, Boakye, Powell, Dodd, Home, Ellis, Rushton, Beresford, Danle, Mazwi

Subs: Sayer, Cameron, Ahmed, Oduka

Goals: Gromek, ‘9, West, ’60, Sime, ’71, Vaughan ‘75