U21S PREVIEW: BURNLEY V MORECAMBE

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Central League Cup action for young Clarets

2025-02-24T16:00:00.000Z

U21S PREVIEW: BURNLEY V MORECAMBE

Central League Cup action for young Clarets

2025-02-24T16:00:00.000Z

Central League Cup action for young Clarets

The group stages of the Central League Cup come to an end on Tuesday afternoon, with Burnley U21s taking on a Morecambe reserve side.

Andy Farrell’s side are defending the title that they won last season and sit top of Group A, needing just a point against the Shrimps to finish top of the group ahead of Blackburn Rovers.

The U21s suffered a rare defeat last week, losing 3-1 at home to Wigan Athletic in the Professional Development League.

Basilio Socoliche scored his first goal of the season but that wasn’t enough to earn a result of any kind, with Harrison Bettoni, Leo Graham and Tom Costello on target for the Latics.

The last time we played in the Central League Cup was back in November, when the young Clarets won their East Lancashire derby against Blackburn at Brockhall.

Rovers took the lead through a Tom Bloxham penalty but Burnley later rallied to score three times in a scintillating 11-minute spell.

Joao Mendes set up Tom Tweedy for the equaliser with a ‘Trivela’ assist before getting on the scoresheet himself to make it 2-1.

Kamarni Ryan secured the win seven minutes from time and, having also beaten Carlisle United 5-0, the young Clarets’ six points from two matches leaves them top of the four-team group.

U21S PREVIEW: BURNLEY V MORECAMBE - Image 1

The Central League Cup is a ‘Reserves’ competition, meaning teams can field players of any age.

We faced Morecambe in a similar competition, the Lancashire FA Senior Cup, just under three weeks ago – and that game was also at Burnley Training Centre.

Farrell’s side eventually won a penalty shootout 3-0 to progress to the next round of that tournament after the game finished 1-1.

Led by Lead Professional Development Phase Coach Ollie Ras, Morecambe’s last EFL Youth Alliance League match saw them lose 3-2 to Harrogate Town at the weekend.

Despite a brace from Lennon Dobson and a penalty save from Alfie Scales, the young Shrimps were unable to return from Yorkshire with a result.

Supporters are welcome to attend this game free of charge at Burnley Training Centre.