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U18s REPORT: MIDDLESBROUGH 0 - 1 BURNLEY

Couch’s second half strike seals three points in North East for young Clarets

2022-03-12T11:00:00.000Z

U18s REPORT: MIDDLESBROUGH 0 - 1 BURNLEY

Couch’s second half strike seals three points in North East for young Clarets

2022-03-12T11:00:00.000Z

Couch’s second half strike seals three points in North East for young Clarets

Tony Philliskirk’s youth team secured a third consecutive U18 Northern Premier League victory with a 1-0 success up in the North East against Middlesbrough.

Versatile player Will Couch got the vital goal midway through the second half, lifting the young Clarets up to seventh in the division at the time of writing.

First Half

It took a while for the contest to spring into life at Rockliffe Park, with ‘Boro the first to go close on 31 minutes as they rattled the crossbar.

At the other end, the Clarets responded with some pressure of their own and Sean Etaluku’s low effort brought an error from the hosts’ goalkeeper, who fumbled but eventually re-gathered the ball before Ruairi Behan could reach the follow-up.

Midfielder Will Hugill also came close for Philliskirk’s side, seeing the ball cannon back off the bar as he searched for the top corner of the net.

And with the last action of the half, full back Dane McCullough saw his free-kick from out wide dip narrowly over with the wind swirling around in the North East.

Second Half

At the restart, Burnley started quicker and Hugill fired wide from a tight angle having taken the ball well in the box.

On 60 minutes, Tremaine Eastmond then tried his luck with a volley from distance and wasn’t far off the mark, but it was to be teammate Couch who grabbed the all-important winner moments later.

Relentlessly, Irish international Couch chased down a ball upfield and won possession before rounding ‘Boro’s ‘keeper to fire home.

Philliskirk’s side had to soak up some pressure from the hosts, managed by Lee Cattermole, with ‘keeper Charlie Casper producing a fine save on 72 minutes to keep out a close-range header.

Towards the end of the game, things became scrappy and three minutes before the end, young midfielder Joe Bauress was shown a straight red card by the referee for apparent dissent.

Five minutes were then added on by the officials, but the young Clarets – as they had done throughout - defended resolutely to ensure a clean sheet and three points headed back to Burnley.

The youth team return to action next Saturday – March 19 – at home to Sunderland in a 1:00pm kick-off at Gawthorpe.

Burnley: Casper, Williams, James, Leckie (C), McCullough, Bauress, Couch, Hugill, Etaluku (Walters 74), Behan (Ratchford 68), Eastmond

Subs: Olopade, Bryan, Grant

Goal: Couch, ‘61