U21S MATCH REPORT: WREXHAM 0-3 BURNLEY

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Clarets progress in Central League Cup

2024-03-26T16:19:53.062Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: WREXHAM 0-3 BURNLEY

Clarets progress in Central League Cup

2024-03-26T16:19:53.062Z

Clarets progress in Central League Cup

Burnley U21s beat a Wrexham reserve side 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon to confirm their place in the semi-finals of the Central League Cup.

Renaldo Torraj, Joe Bevan and Ackeme Francis-Burrell were all on target for the young Clarets, who have topped Group B with four wins from four matches and scored 12 goals in the process.

Manager Andy Farrell made three changes from Friday’s Professional Development League victory over AFC Bournemouth, with Sam Waller returning in goal.

Second-year scholar Joe Ashton came in at centre-back and Mikey O’Neill played a deeper role through the middle, with Bevan leading the line.

U21S MATCH REPORT: WREXHAM 0-3 BURNLEY - Image 1

The young Clarets started brightly as captain Will Hugill fired narrowly wide of the top left corner and O’Neill worked Wrexham goalkeeper Jack Pilkington within the opening eight minutes.

Torraj then broke the deadlock with 12 minutes on the clock. A smart run from Bevan created space for the Albanian to cut in from the left and pick out the bottom left corner for a third goal in four matches.

Wrexham grew into the game and had their best chance of the first half when Harry Ashfield controlled the ball and played a one-two with a team-mate before pulling an effort wide.

Burnley took any kind of sting out of the game with a second goal just 10 seconds after the interval, as left-back Bradley Grant crossed for Bevan to slot home from eight yards.

From there it was about game management, with Farrell giving minutes to Vernon Masara, Noah Adekoya, Michael Parker and Francis-Burrell from the bench and shuffling various players positionally.

U21S MATCH REPORT: WREXHAM 0-3 BURNLEY - Image 2

Wrexham tried to create an opening but were kept at arm’s length for much of the game, with Francis-Burrell completing the scoring in stoppage time.

The 19-year-old reacted quickest after having a shot blocked by Pilkington to score his first Burnley goal from close range on the follow-up.

Farrell’s team have now won four straight matches in all competitions and are next in action on Friday 29th March when they welcome Crewe Alexandra to the Burnley Training Centre.

The Professional Development League fixture is set to kick off at 1pm.

Burnley: Waller, Healy-Byrne (Adekoya), Grant, Ward (73’), Hugill, McDermott, O’Neill, Bevan (Masara 60’), Tweedy (Parker 73’), Torraj, Ashton

Unused Subs: Moss

Wrexham: Pilkington, Hayes, Kelly, Moore, Dean, Pervis, Edwards, Cruise, Hayman, Ashfield, Rainbird

Subs: Jones, Roberts, Nicholas, Edwards, Roberts

Goals: Torraj 12’, Bevan 46’, Francis-Burrell 91’