U23s PREVIEW: ACCRINGTON STANLEY V BURNLEY

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Clarets travel to Stanley in semi-final of regional cup competition as silverware hunt continues

2022-04-11T12:40:20.654Z

U23s PREVIEW: ACCRINGTON STANLEY V BURNLEY

Clarets travel to Stanley in semi-final of regional cup competition as silverware hunt continues

2022-04-11T12:40:20.654Z

Clarets travel to Stanley in semi-final of regional cup competition as silverware hunt continues

Michael Jackson and his U23 side head to the Wham Stadium on Monday evening (11th April) taking on Accrington Stanley in the semi-finals of the Lancashire Senior Cup.

To reach this stage of the regional cup competition – which the club has won 12 times previously - the Clarets have seen off Barrow via a penalty shootout and won 3-0 away at Bolton Wanderers in the previous round where Dara Costelloe’s brace was added to by a fine strike from Lewis Richardson.

More recently, Jackson’s side have claimed three consecutive Premier League 2, Division 2 victories and earned a 5-1 win against Newcastle United last Friday night having trailed midway through the first half.

Now 8th in the division, midfielder Ben Woods bagged a second half hat-trick against the Magpies and ahead of facing more Football League opposition at the last-four stage of the Lancashire Senior Cup, he had his eyes firmly on the prize.

“It’s a semi-final and gives us a chance to get into a final,” said former Manchester United youngster Woods.

U23s PREVIEW: ACCRINGTON STANLEY V BURNLEY - Image 1

“We’re going into the back of it off three wins and we beat Bolton in the last round so let’s go and get into the final.”

If Woods and co. are successful in their quest to progress, they will face either Liverpool or Blackpool in the final. Those two sides play out their own semi-final tie on Monday afternoon.

Standing in their way are fellow East Lancastrians Stanley, managed by Ged Brannan, who are expected to field some of their more senior figures as allowed by the competition’s rules.

The Reds – three-time competition winners - have reached the last four this season with 3-1 victories away against both Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic.

In their most recent outing, on 29th March, Stanley’s U23 side drew 4-4 away at Preston North End with Jack Nolan twice scoring for Brannan’s side.

And though Accrington are lower down the pyramid than the Clarets, the two sides are no strangers having met earlier on this season at Gawthorpe in the group stages of the Central League Cup.

Burnley took the points that day in a close affair, Michael Mellon scoring what proved to be the only goal of the contest in a 1-0 win.