U18s REPORT: BURNLEY 1 DERBY COUNTY 1

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Young Clarets come from behind to earn point on return to league action at Gawthorpe

2021-10-24T10:27:22.710Z

U18s REPORT: BURNLEY 1 DERBY COUNTY 1

Young Clarets come from behind to earn point on return to league action at Gawthorpe

2021-10-24T10:27:22.710Z

Young Clarets come from behind to earn point on return to league action at Gawthorpe

After a break in league fixtures due to the international break and Premier League Cup, the Clarets’ youth team resumed action in the U18 Northern Premier League with a 1-1 draw against Derby County.

Kian Le Fondre came off the bench as a second half substitute to equalise for Burnley after falling behind to a strike from Derby’s Malcolm Ebiowei.

On a blustery afternoon at the training ground, both sides started slowly - trying to find their feet in the contest – and no clear-cut chances were made early on.

Sean Etaluku attempted a lob from the right wing with Rams’ goalkeeper Alfie Roberts off his line, but having had the ‘keeper beaten, the ball went narrowly over the crossbar.

Burnley were then presented with the best chance of the first half in the 22nd minute as George Walters was bundled over in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Tremaine Eastmond stepped up, but shot stopper Roberts got down well to deny the Clarets an opener from 12 yards out.

Eastmond also went close soon after the restart. After a well worked move including numerous teammates, Eastmond received the ball and drove into the area before curling an effort at goal.

Again, Roberts was beaten but the ball sailed just wide of his goal and the opener wasn’t to come the way of the Clarets, who were led by head of coaching Ian Jones and assistant Craig Madden.

U17s REPORT: BURNLEY 3-1 BLACKBURN ROVERS - Image 1

The second half became scrappy and had a ‘stop-start’ nature, but the Rams took the lead in the 63rd minute through Ebiowei who drilled in from close range.

Stand-in Clarets’ boss Jones opted to make a double change in response, and it paid off as attacking midfielder Le Fondre grabbed the equaliser.

Joe Bauress – also on as a sub – floated a free-kick deep into the box which was met by the head of Dan Sassi to guide the ball back across goal, and Le Fondre was in the right place to get it over the line from a few yards out.

After netting a brace in the Clarets cup against Morecambe earlier this week, Le Fondre made it three goals in two games with the leveller.

Both sides could have nicked a winner in the final 10 minutes with Kade Ratchford, on off the bench, firing narrowly over the bar from the edge of the area.

Neither were able to convert a chance to grab a second goal though, so it finished honours even at Gawthorpe.

Burnley: Casper, Williams, McCullough, Hugill, Leckie, Sassi, Etaluku, Coppack, Smyth-Ferguson (Le Fondre 70’), Eastmond (Ratchford 70’), Walters (Bauress 60’)

Subs: Couch, James

Post-match, stand-in assistant Madden reflected on a well-earned point but admitted it could have been three.

He said: “I think it is a fair result overall but at the same time, we probably should’ve won because we have had enough chances in the game to do so.

“We created four or five really good opportunities, especially in the second half, which weren’t taken but the lads worked hard. They pressed really well in the first half particularly and had a good shape.

“In the end, they might have deserved a little bit more from the game in my opinion, but we undoubtedly deserved at least a point from it, and that’s what we have earned after going behind which is great.

“Next week, Tony [Philliskirk, U18s manager] and JT [John Townson, U18s assistant manager] will be back with the lads so I’ll have a chat with them later on today about how the game went.

“Hopefully, the lads can go on to their next game and get that win which we didn’t quite manage today.”

The youth team will be back in action next Saturday – October 30 – with an away trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Played at the Wolves’ Sir Jack Hayward training ground, that game kicks off at 12:30PM.