U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-0 BARNSLEY

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Clarets return to winning ways with success over Tykes at Turf Moor

2022-11-14T17:33:01.226Z

U21 REPORT: BURNLEY 3-0 BARNSLEY

Clarets return to winning ways with success over Tykes at Turf Moor

2022-11-14T17:33:01.226Z

U21s TO HOST SWANSEA AT TURF MOOR ON MONDAY - Image 1

Burnley’s U21 side picked up three points, and returned to 2nd in the Northern Section of the Professional Development League, with a 3-0 win over Barnsley at Turf Moor.

Goals from Mike Mellon and Owen Dodgson had the Clarets two to the good at the break, and in front of just over 200 supporters watching on, a Trialist rounded off proceedings late on to put the seal on a first victory in five.

Five changes were made to the Burnley side from the youthful one which suffered a 4-1 defeat at Peterborough United last time out. U18s Brad Grant and Wiktor Gromek were amongst those to drop out alongside Renaldo Torraj who is currently on international duty with Albania’s U21s.

Into the side came the more experienced Dodgson and Dara Costelloe as well as Seb Thompson. Marcel Lewis and Joe Bauress, who made their first-team bows at Turf Moor last week against Crawley Town, also returned for the meeting with the Tykes.

First Half

It took just 20 seconds for the first chance of the game to come around, and it fell Burnley’s way with striker Mellon breaking through on goal before seeing his shot well held by Reds goalkeeper Jamie Searle.

U21 PREVIEW: BARNSLEY V BURNLEY - Image 3

At the other end, Lewis Thomas then denied Fabio Jalo while a late block prevented Costelloe handing the Clarets the lead from winger Lewis’ cross.

Thomas also kept out a long-range effort from Jack Butterfill before the Clarets eventually took the lead through Mellon’s glancing header at the half-hour mark, guiding home another of Lewis’ fine crosses into the box.

The frontman also guided an effort over minutes later, connecting with a cross from the opposite flank, while Thompson & Lewis also came close with strikes of their own.

Before the break though, it would be two as a free-flowing move upfield culminated in Dodgson picking the ball up inside the area and smashing past a helpless Searle.

CLARETS CALENDAR: YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEK AHEAD - Image 1

Second Half

Starting strong come the restart, Clarets shot stopper Thomas had to be alert to tip a shot from Jalo around the post before Will Hugill – playing for the U21s while on a youth loan at Leek Town as permitted by the terms of his deal – made a lung-busting run down the right wing to pick out Costelloe whose shot was again blocked by a last-dtich tackle.

Both Ne-Jai Tucker & Lewis saw shots go wide of the target by the hour-mark as Burnley pushed for a third to kill the game off but were resilient at the back to limit the visitors’ chances.

Barnsley ‘keeper Searle was proving a worthy foe, first denying Thompson before stopping Mellon one-on-one, while Butterfill was kept out by Thomas at the other end with an equally impressive stop.

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Three changes were made by Burnley in the last ten minutes, one of which seeing the Trialist come on, and with a minute left to play he topped off a strong performance with a deflected shot which wrongfooted Searle to bounce in.

With this the Clarets last league game of the calendar year, four Premier League Cup group games are to come in succession and the first is next Monday – 21st November – at Swansea City (2pm KO).

Burnley: Thomas, Thompson (Ratchford ’85), Hugill, Turner, Dodgson, Lewis (Grant ’85), Helm ©, Bauress, Tucker, Mellon (Trialist ’80), Costelloe

Unused Subs: Moss, James

Barnsley: Searle, Anaman, Pickard, Hickinge, Trialist, Ariely, Nejman ©, Hondermarck, Jalo, Butterfill, Hartley

Subs: Cooper, Dyer, Benjamin, Bland, Trialist

Goals: Mellon, ’30, Dodgson, ’42, Trialist, ‘89