Burnley and Wigan provide us with a treat

Last updated : 22 July 2008 By Tony Scholes
Wes Fletcher - two more goals
Against a Wigan side that has been on fire recently, including a 7-0 win against Accrington on Saturday, a strong looking Burnley side that included two of the released players Thomas Bradley and Lewis Craig were soon on top.

Within just a few minutes of the start we were two goals up with both goals coming from left wing crosses First Bradley's cross was turned in by Under-16 striker Liam Newman and in the very next attack Wes Fletcher got on the end of Craig's cross to give us a 2-0 lead.

If we thought it was going to be an easy ride we were very soon mistaken and Wigan played some excellent football as they put us under some pressure. We withstood it and were just getting ourselves more into the game when they got one back from the penalty spot after a foul by Chris Lynch. That's how it stayed until half time.

Wigan started the brighter but then the Clarets had a good spell which led to Fletcher getting his second with a well taken goal but then Wigan came back in controversial fashion. They pulled one back very quickly but the assistant was flagging for offside. The referee spoke to him but overruled him and it was 3-2.

Both sides were by now playing some really good football and substitute Dom Knowles almost capitalised but couldn't keep his footing just outside the box with the keeper out of the game. Fletcher again came close but it was Wigan who scored to take it to 3-3 and again there was controversy. This time the assistant didn't flag and you would need to ask him why, but as the flag stayed down the offside Wigan forward turned it in to earn his side a point.

It was really enjoyable stuff from start to finish, well done to both sides. It will be the last time we'll see Craig and Bradley in action for us at youth level and on the touchline were both Dean Stott and Rob Turner who have also been released, there will be news on their futures very soon.

There were some good performances right across the pitch for us today, I was particularly impressed with Oliver Devenney in the midfield alongside Adam Kay.

The season has been an enjoyable one, and it is good we've offered terms to two of the players who have completed their apprenticeships. But the team has been about all of the lads and my best wishes today go to those who are leaving.

The team was: Dan McDonald, Ben Hoskin, Dan Brown, Chris Lynch, Thomas Bradley, Matt Lomas, Oliver Devenney, Adam Kay, Lewis Craig, Liam Newman (Dominic Knowles), Wes Fletcher.