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Clarets continue the streak
On the quarter hour mark though, the Clarets made the breakthrough. The ball was played out to Dale Underwood on the right wing. He advanced up field, riding a challenge well, and fired over a peach of a cross. Marc Pugh met it in the box with a bullet header that gave the keeper absolutely no chance.
The Stockport team were attempting to play but couldn’t match our quality. Our midfield pressured well and broke up any attempted attacks, and our front two kept their defence on their toes with good movement. We had a lot of the play but in truth didn’t threaten as much as we should have.
The 2nd half gave us the wind at our backs and with this we picked up the pace. We probed their back line constantly and had chances from a Pugh direct free kick, a Reilly long shot and a couple of drives from Platt.
Jack Overson was fouled badly in the centre circle and yet again found his game come prematurely to an end. He was replaced by Raph Evans who surprisingly went up front, with Martin Reilly slotting in to the back four.
We saw another injury with around fifteen minutes to go as Connor Smith was carried off. He committed a foul on the edge of the Stockport box and found himself on the receiving end of a stiff kick to the knee in retaliation. The offender, however, got away scott free.
For a short spell it looked as though Stockport may lose their composure. Following the kick on Smith, Evans was also fouled, but the defender probably hurt himself more, and Pugh was left with a bloody nose, meaning he had to leave the field for treatment.
With around five minutes left the game was made safe. A through ball was shielded well by Pugh, allowing him to take it in his stride and go clean through. As the keeper came out the striker just shifted it round him easily and rolled it in to take his youth team tally to 12.
It was his last contribution of the game as Lewis Craig replaced him. The youngster could have had an immediate impact as he missed a chance from three yards as it came to him on his weaker foot. It matted not though as the referee drew things to a close.
Team:- Mark Crossley, Rob Henry, Paul Casey, Jack Overson (Raph Evans), Tom Blackler, Dale Underwood, Martin Reilly, Connor Smith (Adam Kay), Nicky Platt, Jay Rodriguez, Marc Pugh (Lewis Craig).