Burnley hammer Hatters with plenty in reserve

Last updated : 10 April 2011 By Andy Ashworth
With members of the youth team having such a prominent role in the reserve team last week (and with another likely run out on Monday) it was certainly no surprise to see both Steven Hewitt and Joe McKee on the bench. With an injury to Dave Lynch too, the midfield was very different to the previous game, as was the defence which was again rotated. Aryn Williams was brought in at left back and Alex Coleman returned from injury to take a place in the centre of defence. In the absence of Lynch and McKee, Joe Jackson, beginning up front with Tommy Taylor, was given the armband.

It was a tentative start as both sides looked to find an opening, but no real chances were carved out in the opening exchanges. Around 20 minutes in Coleman succumbed to what could be a re-occurrence of the injury which forced him to missed some games as he left the field holding the small of his back and he was replaced by Tom Anderson. We also took the opportunity to change our formation with Tommy Taylor dropping into a slightly deeper role.

Within 5 minutes we'd broken the deadlock. Having a lone forward had encouraged Stockport to bring their defensive line up field, and it was the space they left behind that was their undoing. The ball was fed up to Jackson on the wing near halfway. He controlled with his instep and clipped it up the line in the same movement, swivelling to take the covering centre half out of the game and racing free. He cut infield, took it past another retreating defender and fired past the keepers outstretched hand.

Stockport didn't crumble though and kept fighting. They were physical without being dirty and certainly had a high level of energy, but perhaps just lacked the quality to harm us. The closest they came in the game was around the half hour mark, as their left winger cut in and fired a shot into the side netting and frame of the goal.

Five minutes before halftime we extended our lead. Archie Love won the ball just outside our box and fed Jackson just inside the Stockport half. He controlled and turned, laying a perfectly weighted ball through the defence and into the path of Tommy Taylor. He raced on and made no mistake from just inside the box.

Before the interval we had a flurry of chances to put the game beyond the reach of the visitors, but found ourselves foiled by some inspired goalkeeping. Firstly the Stockport goalie made a cracking double save from Alex Mullin and Curtis Woods. Tommy Taylor then had two efforts saved, one from a corner and the other a shot from distance. However, the whistle blew and the score line remained 2-0 at half time.

We began the 2nd half in the same vein. After 5 minutes Tommy Taylor surged up the left wing and floated a cross over. The keeper completely misjudged the flight and got under it. Fortunately for him it drifted onto the post rather than into the net and the ball was hacked behind by a defender. The corner was swung over and Tommy Taylor took it down and laid out to Mullin. His shot was goal bound but hit Jackson in the stomach, dropping to the feet of Dean Overson who smashed it into the back of the net.

Shortly after the third goal James Taylor was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet with a fizzing shot tipped over when it looked destined for the top corner. Him and Adam Evans were interchanging on the wings and on this occasion he was on his preferred right side. He had another chance soon after as he rode a challenge to go one-on-one but he dragged his shot past the past as well as the keeper.

Ross Wilson replaced Jackson on the hour mark and the departing striker will be hoping to have more game time in the reserves on Monday after a very good performance in this game. Ed Williams also came on for the final 15 minutes in place of Tom Anderson. It's hard to tell if he too picked up a knock or whether it was just that he was returning from injury himself and found his stamina fading after an hour in the heat.

With 10 minutes remaining we put the final stamp on the game as Wilson picked up the ball near halfway, skipped on and fired a shot in off the post from 30 yards. It was a good performance from the lads and just what we needed at this stage of the season. It looks as though Port Vale have been surprisingly held away to Accrington Stanley so we will now be top and the ball is most definitely in our court once more.

Team:- Josh Cook, Curtis Woods, Aryn Williams, Dean Overson, Alex Coleman (Tom Anderson (Ed Williams)), James Taylor, Adam Evans, Alex Mullin, Archie Love, Tommy Taylor, Joe Jackson (Ross Wilson).
Subs not used:- Steven Hewitt, Joe McKee.

The player pictured is Tommy Taylor.