U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 4-3 STOCKPORT COUNTY

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Young Clarets are Central League Cup finalists

2024-04-17T17:49:58.899Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 4-3 STOCKPORT COUNTY

Young Clarets are Central League Cup finalists

2024-04-17T17:49:58.899Z

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Burnley U21s booked their place in the final of this season’s Central League Cup with an entertaining 4-3 victory over Stockport County on Wednesday afternoon.

Four first-half goals were followed by an additional three after the break in varying weather conditions at the Burnley Training Centre.

Manager Andy Farrell made two changes to the 11 that started against Charlton Athletic on Sunday, with Basilio Socoliche and a trialist coming in from the off.

The match started at a rapid pace as both teams had efforts saved in the opening two minutes, before Burnley took the lead with five on the clock.

After good work down the right flank Vernon Masara, who celebrates his 17th birthday on Thursday, converted a pinpoint cross from close range.

It was 1-1 five minutes later. After the referee adjudged Tawanda Maswanhise to have been fouled in the area, Ashton Mee scored from the penalty spot.

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The Hatters then took the lead when Maswanhise curled in from the left corner of the box, but Murray Campbell scored his first Clarets goal to equalise before halftime.

Burnley missed a golden opportunity to retake the lead shortly after the hour when Tom Tweedy smacked a penalty against the left-hand post.

Farrell’s team’s third goal did come with just under 20 minutes to play, however, when substitute Lewis Richardson picked out Joe Bevan to calmy find the bottom right corner.

In what was proving to be an end-to-end cup tie, Stockport’s trialist then found a corner from the edge of the area to make it 3-3.

The young Clarets showed plenty of character and determination, however, and Campbell’s fellow centre-back Benn Ward struck an 80th-minute winner to ensure that the team’s cup campaign continues.