U21S MATCH REPORT: STOCKPORT COUNTY 3-1 BURNLEY

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Late goals cost young Clarets

2026-03-04T21:42:46.851Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: STOCKPORT COUNTY 3-1 BURNLEY

Late goals cost young Clarets

2026-03-04T21:42:46.851Z

Late goals cost young Clarets

Despite having already played and won the last 16 tie against Brentford, a Burnley XI lost 3-1 with Stockport County U21s in their final Premier League Cup Group F match.

U16s central midfielder Sam Morley was on target for the young Clarets, who will take the game as a valuable learning experience in the early stages of their professional development.

With Academy fixtures piling up, U18s manager Tony Philliskirk led a youthful squad made up of two U18s, eight U17s and six U16s.

Second-year scholars Joe Wilcock and Fabio So lined up at left-back and centre-midfield respectively, with first years Harry Grimshaw, Dylan Morison, Luca Fong, Luca Scanlon, and James Lewis also involved from the off.

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

Stockport’s Lewis Fiorini shot straight at Grimshaw in the opening minute and the hosts had lots of the ball but weren’t able to create many clear-cut openings.

The young Clarets grew in confidence as the first half progressed, showing a real team spirit to dig deep defensively.

Their efforts were rewarded with the opening goal in the 36th minute, with a quick counterattack being led by U16 striker Jas Mmakogu.

He fed Scanlon, who teed up holding midfielder Morley to find the bottom right corner with a first-time finish from 18 yards.

Lewis was inches away from finding the same part of the net on the stroke of half-time, but it just trickled the wrong side of the post.

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

Philliskirk rotated his squad at the break, introducing first-year scholars Croyde Da Costa, Diandro Fletchman and Vishon Masara in place of Morison, Wilcock and So respectively.

At the same time another U16 entered the field of play, with Aiden Huggett replacing Scanlon.

Stockport returned with extra fire in their bellies and after Grimshaw fielded a powerful strike well, Fiorini fired a half volley centimetres over the top.

Our fifth and final change saw Lewis make way for Elijah Turahirwa just after the hour, with the Clarets now having too defend resolutely in their shape.

Stockport’s pressure eventually paid dividends with 14 minutes to play, when Marcus Kouam headed a powerful cross back the way it came and out of Grimshaw’s reach.

Bruno Cina then completed the turnaround with a close-range finish two minutes from time, before Rhys Watson met another cross to head in a third.

Burnley U21s welcome Colchester United to Leyland for the quarter final of this competition on Thursday 5th March, with kick-off at 7pm.

Burnley: Grimshaw, Morison (Da Costa 46), Wilcock (Fletchman 46), Ilunga, Fong, Morley, Scanlon (Huggett 46), So (Masara 46), Mmakogu, Lewis (Turahirwa 63), Leonard

Stockport County: O’Shea, Gardner, Hillary, Ilara, Hoskonen (Goodyear 33), Watson, Bailey, Edwards, Cina, Astles (Kouam 61), Fiorini

Unused Substitutes: Williams-Lawless, Hughes, Maylett

Goals: Morley 36’, Kouam 76’, Cina 88’, Watson 90’