Aircraft overhead as Clarets youngsters pick up point

Terry Pashley made two changes to the side that started their Merit League campaign with the 4-2 defeat of Carlisle last Saturday. Schoolboy Neil Trotman came in at central defence for the injured Ryan Townsend, and trialist Sean Fell from Derby replaced Stephen Richardson on the right of midfield. On the subs’ bench it was good to see Sean Blakey making a return after the bad injury he received, coincidentally, in the last game against Stockport.

Burnley, in 4-4-2, lined up: James Salisbury; James Heywood (Marc Pugh 75), Neil Trotman, Liam Eves (capt.), Tom Ince; Sean Fell (Stephen Richardson 67), Richard Chaplow, Joel Pilkington, Matthew O’Neill; Damien Hindle, Robert Grimes (Rhys Carpenter 75). Subs not used: Sean Blakey, Darryl Avery.

Manor Farm is situated in Timperley on the edge of the Cheshire countryside within roaring distance of Manchester airport. Disappointingly, there was no sign of Timperley’s most famous resident, papier-mâché-headed Frank Sidebottom; however, the two teams more than made up for this lack of whacky nasal hilarity by producing a thoroughly entertaining and skilful game, which was much appreciated by the watching spectators, including a Liverpool scout.

In the first half the Clarets were obliged not only to defend against Stockport’s lively forward duo of Bailey and Holt, but also against a stiff breeze and a considerable slope. The Hatters kept Burnley well pegged back, but found the Clarets’ defence, including three schoolboys, in fine form. Captain Liam was having an excellent game, Neil Trotman was in commanding form, winning everything in the air, and young full backs Tom Ince and James Heywood were doing well to cut out the threats from both wings.

The midfield were closing down well to prevent long range shots, and the Clarets were so successfully keeping out Stockport that James Salisbury in goal was rarely troubled. Up front, Damien Hindle and Robert Grimes were holding the ball up well, and the County defence was never allowed to settle.

Gradually the Clarets midfield began to take over, and it was County’s turn to be contained in their own half. With Chaplow spreading the ball around well, Pilkington tackling tigerishly, and Fell and O’Neill getting forward on the wings the impetus was now definitely with Burnley. For the last fifteen minutes of the half the Clarets dominated, and it came as no surprise when in the 40^th minute Hindle, put through by Chaplow, slotted the ball home in confident style.

Stockport rallied well in the second half, and although the Clarets now had the slope in their favour the Hatters pushed forward for the equaliser. Again the defence stood firm, but were caught out in the 65^th minute when Holt ran on to a through ball to fire past Salisbury for 1-1.

As in the first period, Burnley finished strongly. O’Neill had a header saved at point blank range, Pilkington almost got on the end of a cross, but it was Robert Grimes who came closest to giving the Clarets the three points when, after great work on the wing by Knocker, he rose well to meet the cross at the far post, only to see a defender somehow manage to head his effort off the line.

In a tense and exciting final few minutes both sides went all out for the winner, but after a couple of slight scares at both ends the ref blew for time on what had been an entertaining and absorbing contest between two well-matched teams. Both sides would claim they had had chances to win the game, but a draw was probably a fair result in the end.