Alliance Affairs - latest news from the Youth League

Last updated : 24 October 2002 By Peter Heywood

Iain Dowie - gave some of the Oldham youngsters and opportunity in the first team
Wigan had been the only team not to be beaten by the Lilywhites this season, drawing 1-1 in a cup game. On Saturday they produced another excellent performance at the Preston Sports Arena when they were held 2-2 after leading 2-0. Preston "Director of Youth" Simon Davey was not happy with his team and accepted they were somewhat fortunate in getting a point against David Lee’s ever-improving youngsters.

Preston gave a second outing to remarkable Londoner, Fola Onibuje. This All England Junior 200m champion stands at 6’7", was with Charlton Athletic but decided to go back to college full time, picked up 3 excellent grades at A level this summer, and has just signed for Preston on a junior contract until the summer of 2004. One to watch, it would seem.

Tranmere, having had their last two games cancelled due to opposition injury crises, vented their pent-up aggression on the Clarets, hammering us 6-1. Paul Robinson hit a first half hat-trick, Thomas Carrol two, and Karl Dunbar the other. Fourteen goals from three wins in three games played is a statistic that will surely worry Preston, never mind the rest of the league. Mind you, any team turning up at Tranmere’s Ingleborough Park training ground knows that they will have a mountain to climb.

Elsewhere, Bury moved up into third place with a 1-0 home win over Rochdale, trialist Ryan Bernard scoring. This has been a good week for the young Shakers, as the under-18s progressed into round 2 of the FA Youth Cup, beating Lincoln 2-1.

Any game involving Carlisle is sure to witness goals, and true to form they were at it again winning 3-2 at Stockport. Lee Hamilton scored again as United raced into a 3-0 halftime lead, but Stockport staged a late fightback with goals from Baguley and Campbell. That makes a total of 34 goals in the six games Carlisle have played so far!

The remaining game saw bottom of the table Blackpool beaten again 4-1 at home by inconsistent Oldham. Iain Dowie was sufficiently impressed with his youngsters that he fielded some in the first team LDV Vans Trophy defeat at home to Carlisle last night; striker Scott Vernon rewarded his faith by scoring the two late goals which took the game to extra time.

This Saturday the Clarets’ youth team are at home to Stockport, weather permitting, kick off 11am.

This weekend’s other fixtures:

Carlisle v Tranmere
Oldham v Bury
Rochdale v Preston
Wigan v Blackpool

Leading reported league scorers:

7 Kelvin Langmead (Preston)
6 Paul Robinson (Tranmere)
5 Lee Hamilton (Carlisle)
4 Matthew Blinkhorn (Blackpool)
4 Michael Kewley (Preston)

Youth Alliance League Table

Burnley's Fixtures and Results