Clarets go fourth as Preston extend lead

Last updated : 10 April 2008 By Tony Scholes
Michael Duff
Michael Duff - a second goal in his fourth reserve game
North End had to come from behind last night in a game that was played at Deepdale. Blackpool took the lead with a goal from Preston born Simon Wiles but Neil Mellor, one of the most expensive acquisitions playing regular reserve team football, hit back with two goals before half time to win it for the home side.

It has given them a four point lead over Morecambe at the top of the league but the Shrimpers still have three games in hand over Preston and last night's defeat against the Clarets was only their third in this their first season in the Pontin's.

Manchester City and Burnley are coming up on the rails and are now in third and fourth places respectively. City won 3-0 at Carlisle. Clayton McDonald opened the scoring for the Premier League club and it was 2-0 at half time with Alex Nimely-Tchuimeni scoring just before the break.

James Poole completed the scoring with what has been described as a flying scissor kick following a right wing cross from the wonderfully named Nimely-Tchuimeni. That win leaves them above the Clarets on goal difference but we certainly closed that gap.

Last night's was our fourth successive win in March (they don't have a Pontin's League Manager of the Month though) and our games in hand could still see us challenge for the title.

The remaining three games saw the bottom six clubs paired. Tranmere and Wrexham were the two winners. Josh Johnson opened the scoring for Wrexham at Accrington and that goal was followed by two more from Silvio Spann. Right winger Spann was the star of the show and gave Stanley's left back Graham Branch a torrid time.

It's good to see people travelling to watch the reserve team and Wrexham had no fewer than nine supporters there in a crowd of nearly fifty.

Burnley born Adnan Ahmed and Craig Curran were the scorers for Tranmere in their win at Chester and in the final game Rochdale and Bury settled for a point each in a 1-1 draw although Rochdale should have won it.

This week's results

Accrington 0 Wrexham 3
Carlisle 0 Manchester City 3
Chester 0 Tranmere 2
Morecambe 1 Burnley 7
Preston 2 Blackpool 1
Rochdale 1 Bury 1

Next week's fixtures

Monday 31st March
Accrington v Morecambe

Wednesday 2nd April
Blackpool v Bury
Burnley v Carlisle
Manchester City v Morecambe
Preston v Wrexham

Burnley Goalscorers

4: Steve Jones, Alex MacDonald
3: Ade Akinbiyi, Alan Mahon, James O'Connor, Jay Rodriguez, Rob Turner
2: Owen Coyle, Michael Duff
1: James Craggs, Wade Elliott, Alex-Ray Harvey, Adam Kay, Garreth O'Connor, David Unsworth