U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 MORECAMBE (3-0 PENS)

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Youthful eleven edge past the Shrimps

2025-02-07T10:00:00.000Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 MORECAMBE (3-0 PENS)

Youthful eleven edge past the Shrimps

2025-02-07T10:00:00.000Z

Youthful eleven edge past the Shrimps

Burnley U21s booked their place in the semi-finals of the Lancashire FA Senior Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Morecambe.

Second-year scholar Zach Johnson netted the Clarets’ only goal in regular time before goalkeeper Lewis Forshaw played a key role in the shootout, saving two spot-kicks.

Manager Andy Farrell named a youthful starting XI and Forshaw kept goal for the first time since an 8-1 victory over Birmingham City at the start of December.

Four members of the U18s squad started, including centre-back Ben Jordison and holding midfielder Marley Leuluai.

Further forwards, Kian McMahon-Brown filled the ’10’ role and Johnson started off the right of the forward line.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 MORECAMBE (3-0 PENS) - Image 1

A tame start saw Kamarni Ryan work the first chance of note with 16 minutes on the clock, but his 22-yard effort was wide of the left-hand post.

Johnson opened the scoring on the half hour when the wind took hold of McMahon-Brown’s effort and, after it bounced back off the bar, the winger was on hand to head in from close range.

Ryan produced a sharp touch and shot that worked Morecambe ‘keeper Harry Ascroft before the visitors came close to an equaliser before half-time, but Adam Fairclough headed wide.

Basilio Socoliche replaced Joao Mendes at the break and the young Clarets started the second half brightly, as McMahon-Brown headed on target and Brandon Ly pulled narrowly wide from the edge.

They were made to rue those missed chances when Fairclough volleyed excellently into the top right corner to make it 1-1 in the 54th minute.

Farrell turned to his bench immediately afterwards to introduce two more second-year scholars in Logan Carlin and Oli Pimlott, who replaced Hamzat Balogun and Joe Ashton in defence.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 1-1 MORECAMBE (3-0 PENS) - Image 2

The game was starting to drift and two more changes saw Frankie McMahon-Brown and Benji Wetshi come on with less than 20 minutes to play for Leuluai and Ryan.

Wetshi had an immediate impact, showing his pace and skill to beat a man and fizz a ball that narrowly evaded everybody across the six-yard box.

Johnson and Carlin later had efforts on target but the match finished all-square and headed straight to penalties, with Burnley taking first.

Murray Campbell, Wetshi and Johnson were all on target in between two strong saves by Forshaw, leaving Morecambe a penalty they had to score.

Unfortunately for them, the effort was well over the bar and the young Clarets are now through to the semi-finals where they will play Fleetwood Town.

Burnley: Forshaw, Balogun (Carlin 56), Ashton (Pimlott 56), Jordison, Campbell, Leuluai (F. McMahon-Brown 73), Johnson, Ly, Ryan (Wetshi 73), K. McMahon-Brown, Mendes (Socoliche 46)

Morecambe: Ascroft, Lynchey, Snowball, Gordon, Illingworth, Tonkin, Stewart-Cooney, Dobson, Wright (Cox 82), Mercer, Fairclough

Unused Substitutes: Scales, Byron, Holden, Crane, Vilchez, Pooke

Goals: Johnson 30’, Fairclough 54’