Clarets go down to Manchester United

Last updated : 19 March 2010 By Tony Scholes
Curtis Woods
With a very similar line up we gave a much better show despite losing the game 2-0, and with any luck at all could have scored a goal or two ourselves.

Our first opportunity came with the score still at 0-0 when we won a free kick a few yards outside the United penalty box. Joey Gudjonsson lined it up and hit an unstoppable shot that simply hammered against the crossbar.

It was as close as we came during the first half and soon after that effort it was the home side who took the lead through the irritating Febian Brandy. He spent much of the first half being caught well offside and then, on each occasion, berating the assistant referee.

This time he got on the end of an Oliver Norwood free kick to head home past Diego Penny, leaving the Peruvian goalkeeper with little chance. It was somewhat frustrating to see the goal come from a superbly taken free kick by someone from Burnley.

Burnley responded and the closest we came to an equaliser was from an Alex MacDonald shot from some twenty yards that flew just over the bar.

We'd done well in the first half but soon after the break our hosts doubled their lead through Corry Evans. A cross from the left saw Evans come in at the far post to head home.

A change of formation saw Burnley come back into the game during the second half and we were certainly worth a goal. More than once we had efforts cleared off the line, one from our own player Jay Rodriguez.

There was no way back, but you don't expect it against United. It's just the same with the reserves as it is with the first team. Any foul by us seemed to be punished with a yellow card whilst they could get away with murder, including the raising of hands into a Burnley player's face.

Curtis Woods did well again at right back. The 17-year-old from Northern Ireland is in his first year as an apprentice and has only recently moved to this position from the centre of defence. Alongside him in defence there was another assured performance from Ben Hoskin, and we are pleased to report that Ben has finally received the all clear from the specialist after his back injuries last season.

Further up the pitch, it's good to see Alex MacDonald and Jay Rodriguez showing some good form, both did well until they were substituted.

Our next game is against Manchester United next Thursday at Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground.

The teams last night were;

Manchester United: Ron-Robert Zieler, Reece Brown, Scott Wootton, Oliver Gill, Joe Dudgeon (Scott Moffatt 66), Cameron Stewart, Owen Hargreaves (Magnus Eikrem 45), Corry Evans, Rodrigo Possebon (Nicholas Ajose 45), Oliver Norwood, Febian Brandy. Sub not used: Conor Devlin.

Burnley: Diego Penny, Curtis Woods, Ben Hoskin, Kevin Long, Christian Kalvenes, Alex MacDonald (Chris Anderson 58), Joey Gudjonsson (Michael King 77), Adam Kay, Alex-Ray Harvey, Jay Rodriguez (Wes Fletcher 69), Frédéric Nimani. Subs not used: Danny McDonald, Dom Knowles.