U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-1 BLACKBURN ROVERS

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Young Clarets win 2025/26 LFA Senior Cup

2026-08-06T21:00+01:00

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-1 BLACKBURN ROVERS

Young Clarets win 2025/26 LFA Senior Cup

2026-08-06T21:00+01:00

First-half goals from Zach Johnson and a trialist saw Burnley U21s claim the bragging rights over their Blackburn Rovers counterparts with a 2-1 victory on Thursday night.

In doing so they lifted the 2025/26 Lancashire FA Senior Cup in front of a healthy crowd at the County Ground in Leyland.

The starting XI had a more familiar feeling than recent friendlies, with Oisin Cooney returning in goal and Murray Campbell playing at centre-back.

George Brierley wore the captain’s armband in midfield, with Vernon Masara and Johnson flanking Kian McMahon-Brown up front.

Burnley started brightly and broke the deadlock after six minutes. McMahon-Brown latched onto a loose pass and slid Johnson through one-on-one, allowing the number seven to finish coolly.

Clarets ‘keeper Cooney was clattered into with 23 on the clock and after lengthy treatment, he was stretchered off and replaced by Jack Robinson.

That didn’t seem to affect our momentum, though, and it was 2-0 when the trialist centre-back was in the right place to convert from close range after Felix Goddard spilled a cross.

Blackburn grew into the half as it progressed and had two sights at goal before half-time, but Robinson was able to thwart both James Edmondson and Conor O’Riordan.

Masara flicked a header on for McMahon-Brown to get a shot away 10 seconds after the restart, but Goddard’s outstretched leg prevented a third goal.

The game now started to develop extra bite and Farrell’s side kept their foot on the gas, with Johnson’s powerful free-kick kept out by a flying save.

Two substitutions then came 17 minutes from time, when Cameron Scott and Brandon Pouani replaced Michael Stanley and Ellis Clark respectively.

Troy Savage later made way for Dylan Morison before Rovers halved the deficit through Jayden Sergeant’s pinpoint finish in the 84th minute.

A final Burnley switch saw Destiny Okonkwo take the place of Masara and with our opponents growing in confidence, their supporters made their voices heard.

Lucas Houghton tested Robinson and Edmondson fired over but it wasn’t to be for our opponents, and Brierley lifted a trophy high above his head for the second time in three months.

Burnley: Cooney (Robinson 33), Stanley (Scott 73), Pimlott, Campbell, Trialist, Savage (Morison 81), Johnson, Brierley, McMahon-Brown, Clark (Pouani 73), Masara (Okonkwo 86)

Unused Substitutes: King, Taylor

Blackburn Rovers: Goddard, Houghton, Pates (Goremusandu 79), O’Riordan, Ball, Dunn, Edmondson, Vare, Higgins, Lister (Sergeant HT), McCoy (Leatherbarrow 79)

Unused Substitutes: Taylor, McIlroy

Goals: Johnson 6’, Trialist 37’, Sergeant 84’