U18S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1-2 WATFORD

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Season ends in defeat at Turf Moor

2025-05-09T20:47:38.481Z

U18S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1-2 WATFORD

Season ends in defeat at Turf Moor

2025-05-09T20:47:38.481Z

Season ends in defeat at Turf Moor

Burnley U18s took an early lead but were beaten 2-1 by Watford in their Professional Development League play-off semi-final on Friday night.

Manager Tony Philliskirk made five changes to side that started last week’s final match of the regular league season against Colchester United, opting to field some more experienced heads.

Three of those switches were in defence, with Luca Jackson, Oli Pimlott and Jack McEvilly taking the places of Albert Blackie, Joe Wilcock and Michael Stanley respectively at Turf Moor.

Further forwards, Troy Savage got the nod in central midfield and fellow first-year scholar Kian McMahon-Brown started in a front two alongside Vernon Masara.

U18S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1-2 WATFORD - Image 1

It took just eight minutes for the young Clarets to break the deadlock, with Masara showing great tenacity to win the ball and hold off his defender.

From there, he followed his goal against Colchester last week with a beautifully curled finish into the bottom right corner here.

Philliskirk’s side looked threatening going forwards in the opening quarter, with Zach Johnson almost finding Adam McCoy in a dangerous position before Oli Pimlott’s shot was blocked behind.

The visitors grew into the game as the first half progressed, though, and found an equaliser in the 40th minute.

After a good move down the left, the ball was pulled back by Raul Vancea for Krishan Shevchenko to beat Clarets ‘keeper Connor Edwards from roughly 12 yards.

Johnson came agonisingly close to restoring the lead two minutes into the second half, forcing Samuel Morris to scramble backwards and tip the ball over his own bar.

U18S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1-2 WATFORD - Image 2

A quiet next 20 minutes unfolded with the only goalmouth action seeing Edwards save a tame header from Jai-Dea Moulton, so Philliskirk turned to his bench.

Goal scorer Masara made way for Benji Wetshi in the 70th minute and two more changes followed soon afterwards, with Adam Abbas and George Brierley replacing Brandon Pouani and McCoy respectively.

Watford then delivered a sucker punch with three minutes to play.

Morris’ long ball forward found Abin Nabizada, and the substitute did well to shrug off a defender or two and pick out the bottom left corner.

The Clarets didn’t give up and forced two fantastic saves in stoppage-time, with McMahon-Brown and Pimlott both being denied from close range.

With the result the U18s’ season has now come to an end and it’s one for the whole club to be proud of, with the team winning the North section title in style.

Burnley: Edwards, Jackson, Pimlott, Adekoya, McEvilly, Savage, Johnson, McCoy (Brierley 75), Masara (Wetshi 70), K. McMahon-Brown, Pouani (Abbas 75)

Unused Substitutes: Feeney, Stanley

Watford: Morris, Hunt, Vancea, Ramirez-Espain, Moulton, Georgiou, Smith, Sanghrajka (Akinyimika 90), Okosun, Shevchenko (Nabizada 59), Massiah-Edwards

Unused Substitutes: Barrett, Riza, Scriven

Goals: Masara 8’, Shevchenko 40’, Nabizada 87’