Clarets back on top of Alliance

Adam Evans

Carlisle lead the table from Burnley on goal difference, but as we hit another five goals at the Crown Ground there was further good news with Rochdale beating Carlisle 4-3 to send the Clarets three points clear at the top.

That defeat has seen the Cumbrians drop to third with Walsall, who still have two games in hand, winning at home to Port Vale. They are still just three points behind us and remain unbeaten in the league.

Preston, the other real candidates for the title, were without a game and so slip to fourth place in the table.

Only two other games were played. Tranmere's home game against Macclesfield was called off but both Bury and Stockport secured away wins against Blackpool and Wrexham respectively.

Our place at the top of the table could be short lived this time. On Friday we face Ipswich Town in the FA Youth Cup and, with the Youth Alliance Cup tie against Notts County to follow, we don't have another league game until the beginning of February.

A Walsall win at Shrewsbury next Saturday would see them go top and Carlisle will also go above us should they win, but they have a difficult game at Preston who themselves could get within a point of us should they win.

Last week's results and this week's fixtures are shown below with the Burnley youth team goalscorers.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Saturday 7th January
Accrington 2 Burnley 5
Blackpool 0 Bury 2
Rochdale 4 Carlisle 3
Tranmere v Macclesfield - Postponed
Walsall 2 Port Vale 0
Wrexham 2 Stockport 3

THIS WEEK'S FIXTURES

Saturday 14th January
Blackpool v Rochdale
Bury v Accrington
Oldham v Morecambe
Preston v Carlisle
Shrewsbury v Walsall
Stockport v Wigan

BURNLEY'S GOALSCORERS (LEAGUE AND CUP)

16: Jason Gilchrist
14: Shay McCartan
6: Steven Hewitt
5: Adam Evans
3: Cameron Howieson
2: Archie Love, Alex Mullin
1: Lewis Nuttall, Dean Overson, James Taylor, Aryn Williams, own goals

CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE