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| Two goals for Ryan Noble |
It wasn't a fixture that attracted too much in the way of support. Very little advertising, suggestions in the local press of an under-18 fixture and, of course, England's crucial World Cup qualifier against Poland all contributed to the small number in attendance who were shoved into one small section of the Bob Lord Stand.
Burnley showed four changes from the team that had started the Under-21 Premier League Cup tie against Wigan a week earlier. Polish/Aussie Alex Cisak was replaced in goal by Croatian/Aussie Danijel Nizic and there was a change at left back with Kyle Brownhill replacing Luke Conlan who was just about to make his Northern Ireland under-21 debut.
Micah Evans, who remains with us on trial, and Luke Gallagher occupied the wide positions in midfield with Steven Hewitt moving inside to replace Brian Stock and Jason Gilchrist having to settle for a place on the bench.
Things couldn't have got off to a worse start as Morecambe went in front with not much over three minutes on the clock. It was a poor goal from our point of view. Brownhill's back pass went straight to Morecambe's Alex Naylor who made no mistake.
It took us a while to find our feet after that and that gave the game a scrappy sort of start, but we started to get into our stride, and after we scored twice in a minute midway through the half the result was never in any doubt.
The goals on 22 and 23 minutes were so similar in that both came from good deliveries from Evans out on the right. The former Blackburn winger had had something of a mixed start to the game. He'd shown some good pace and trickery but on a couple of occasions his ball into the box let him.
He then run on to a through ball and got into the box only to go down with referee Dean Mohareb showing no inclination to award a penalty.
But then came these two excellent balls into the box for first Ryan Noble and then Steven Hewitt to finish from close range.
It was all Burnley now and the third goal ten minutes from half time came as no surprise. The architect of this goal was very much Hewitt who made the pass of the match to put Brownhill clear down the left. The full back's cross looked to have too much on it but Frost came in to finish from close range and ensure a two goal lead at the break.
We thought we might be in for a goal fest when Noble got his second of the game less than two minutes into the second half. Frost did really well to flick the ball on to the striker who superbly half volleyed home from just outside the box.
Rather than it lead to more goals it all seemed to go flat for a long period during the second half but Burnley always looked by far the most likely. Noble almost got on the end of a ball for a hat trick, Frost was unlucky not to get a second himself and as the game was coming to a close Gallagher hit a terrific shot from distance that just cleared the bar.
But 4-1 it ended and that takes the Clarets through to the quarter finals of the competition although there is, at this time, no news of who our opponents might be.
The teams were;
Burnley: Danijel Nizic, Alex Coleman, Kevin Long (Jack Errington 70), Tom Anderson, Kyle Brownhill, Micah Evans, Steven Hewitt, Archie Love, Luke Gallagher, Ryan Noble (Jason Gilchrist 70), Jamie Frost (Luke Daly 82). Subs not used: Callum Jakovlevs, Kevin Ly.
Morecambe: Andreas Arestidou, Aaron McGowan, Will Bell, Chris Doyle, Jim Smith (Jack Preston 82), Joe McGee, Alex Newby, Dan Dunleavy, Alex Naylor (Damani Holness 66), Joe Mwasile, Tom Woods (Adam Reynolds 66). Subs not used: Will Kitchen, Charlie Bailey.
Referee: Dean Mohareb (Cheshire).