U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 3-2 STOCKPORT COUNTY

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Late goal earns three Premier League Cup points

2025-10-17T22:18:06.967Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 3-2 STOCKPORT COUNTY

Late goal earns three Premier League Cup points

2025-10-17T22:18:06.967Z

Late goal earns three Premier League Cup points

Burnley U21s maintained their perfect start to this season’s Premier League Cup campaign with a 3-2 victory over Stockport County U21s on Friday night.

An eventful match in Leyland saw the young Clarets establish a two-goal lead before being pegged back, but an own goal in second-half stoppage-time was the difference between the two sides.

There were four changes to the XI that started the match against Chelsea before the international break, with Lewis Forshaw returning to keep goal.

Charlie Veevers, Zach Johnson and Brandon Pouani slotted into a new-look midfield four, with Ellis Clark playing off Joe Bevan in attack.

It took just nine minutes for Veevers to open the scoring. After a surging run through the middle of the pitch, the midfielder confidently picked out the bottom left corner.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 3-2 STOCKPORT COUNTY - Image 1

Andy Farrell’s side continued to have the better of the attacking play and after Pouani’s trickery and shot frOm the left forced a corner, Veevers dropped a shoulder and worked Cian O’Shea low.

Burnley’s dominance eventually paid off with a second goal on the half hour, and it was Jack McEvilly who got it.

The centre-back peeled off to the back post and met Johnson’s corner with a firm header, giving O’Shea no chance.

A planned change at the break saw Kian McMahon-Brown, fresh from Republic of Ireland U17s duty, replace Bevan up front, but the visitors reduced the deficit with 54 on the clock.

After Forshaw made a strong save to deny Stephen Maylett from close range, CoLlins Nino reacted quickest to the loose ball and finished low.

The game became end to end as the half progressed and Burnley looked proficient on the counter attack, so Farrell introduced an injection of pace in Vernon Masara.

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 3-2 STOCKPORT COUNTY - Image 2

Two of those back-to-front moves then almost saw the Clarets net their third, but McEvilly headed straight at the ‘keeper before Oli Pimlott blazed an inviting chance over.

Two more changes saw goal scorers McEvilly and Veevers make way for Noah Adekoya and Troy Savage respectively but it was all-square soon afterwards.

After a loose touch in defence gifted Ryan Maher the ball, Stockport’s number seven coolly dinked the ball past the onrushing Forshaw.

Burnley didn’t let their heads drop, though, and found what proved to be the winning goal with a slice of good fortune in the first minute of added time.

Clark’s whipped delivery from the right caused uncertainty following a set piece, and it looked like County defender Joe Hillary got the final touch to divert it past his own ‘keeper.

Burnley now have six points from six in Premier League Cup Group F, and now turn their attention to a National League Cup tie at Tamworth on Tuesday night.

Burnley: Forshaw, Campbell, Pimlott, Williams, McEvilly (Adekoya 82), Brierley, Johnson (Masara 68), Clark, Bevan (McMahon-Brown 46), Veevers (Savage 82), Pouani

Unused Substitutes: Leuluai

Stockport County: O’Shea, Lewis, Hillary, Nolan, Mapengu, Watson, Maher, Edwards, Nino, Astles (Lennon 62), Maylett

Unused Substitutes: Davis, Hughes, Rae, Opoligan

Goals: Veevers 9’, McEvilly 31’, Nino 54’, Maher 84’, Hillary OG 90+1'