U21S MATCH REPORT: BRACKLEY TOWN 2-1 BURNLEY

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National League Cup campaign ends in defeat

2025-11-25T23:37:45.539Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: BRACKLEY TOWN 2-1 BURNLEY

National League Cup campaign ends in defeat

2025-11-25T23:37:45.539Z

National League Cup campaign ends in defeat

Joe Bevan’s late goal wasn’t enough to prevent defeat for Burnley U21s on Tuesday night, with the young Clarets losing 2-1 to Brackley Town in the National League Cup.

There were three changes that started the Premier League Cup defeat to Queens Park Rangers on Friday night, with Oisin Cooney given the nod between the sticks.

Charlie Veevers took the number 10 shirt, while Zach Johnson started on the right of the front three alongside Vernon Masara and Brandon Pouani.

Brackley had all the early running, with Cooney forced into two saves in the opening 15 minutes in addition to Connor Hall hitting the top of the bar with a powerful effort.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BRACKLEY TOWN 2-1 BURNLEY - Image 1

Two goals in two minutes mid-way through the half gave the hosts full control, and the first came when the Clarets defence were unable to clear their lines and Callum Stweart swept into the bottom left corner.

Hall notched the second, meeting Tyler Lyttle’s cross from deep with a diving header.

Andy Farrell’s side grew into the tie as it progressed and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit before half-time.

After Oli Pimlott’s effort on the slide from a Johnson cross was just too high, Pouani ran three quarters of the pitch and shot just wide of the left-hand post from 18 yards.

Farrell seemed to change formation at the break but Brackley continued to have chances, the best of which saw Stewart glance a header narrowly wide.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BRACKLEY TOWN 2-1 BURNLEY - Image 2

A double change shortly after the hour saw Masara and Johnson make way for Bevan and Tom Tweedy respectively, and the former injected life into his team.

Within two minutes of his introduction he had two efforts at goal, but both were easy enough for Cameron Gregory to claim.

Hamzat Balogun later made a welcome return from injury, replacing Ellis Clark for his first appearance since the end of August.

Bevan halved the deficit with less than 10 minutes to play, latching onto a loose ball in the Brackley area and finishing between the ‘keeper’s legs.

Farrell immediately replaced Pouani and Pimlott with Benji Wetshi and Brad Grant and Burnley attacked the closing stages with the bit between their teeth.

After Cooney reacted sharply to stop a goal bound header it was Grant who had the best chance to restore parity, but his header from a Balogun corner was straight at Gregory.

Burnley U21s: Cooney, Campbell, Pimlott (Grant 82), Williams, Ashton, Brierley, Johnson (Tweedy 62), Clark (Balogun 75), Masara (Bevan 62), Veevers, Pouani (Wetshi 82)

Unused Substitutes: Grimshaw

Brackley Town: Gregory, Lyttle, Calder, Morrison, Brown (Roberts 62), Donawa, Byrne (Price 46), Stewart, Hall (Waldron 46), Newton (Okafor 62), Haynes (Nottingham 62)

Unused Substitutes: Maxted, Dean

Goals: Stewart 22’, Hall 24’, Bevan 81’