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Although strengthened with the inclusion of four second year apprentices, it was still a very inexperienced team compared to the one that lined up for the visitors, but we fought hard and played a lot better than the score would ever suggest.
Defeat is harsh
Although strengthened with the inclusion of four second year apprentices, it was still a very inexperienced team compared to the one that lined up for the visitors, but we fought hard and played a lot better than the score would ever suggest.
We more than contained Preston in the first half and in truth deserved to go in level at half time, but we were a goal down following a penalty in the closing stages of the half. It was a foul by Paul Casey and just inside the box and there was no way we could complain about it, it was as clear a penalty as you would see.
Mark Crossley went the right way, to his left, but it was a well struck effort into the corner and he had no chance of keeping it out, and neither could he do much about it when they doubled their lead early in the second half, converting after we'd failed to clear the ball.
It was then that we really got into the game and full back Rob Henry got his head onto a free kick to the far post and brought us right back into it at 2-1, and it could have been better had the referee not missed a clear handball that should have resulted in us having a penalty of our own.
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Preston capitalised on that and stretched their lead to two goals again when Crossley couldn't hold a shot and it dropped for their forward right in front of goal, and then from distance they made it four with a delicately placed shot that no goalkeeper could have prevented.
It looked all over, and result wise it was, but with half an hour to go not a single head went down. We fought back and only some poor luck prevented us from scoring further goals ourselves. Rob Turner came on to partner the impressive Cayne Hanley up front but we just couldn't find the net again and the game ended at 4-1.
They deserved better than that but at least they got the treat of playing on the first team training pitch, a lush green surface that looked immaculate in the Gawthorpe sun, if only it was always like that down there.
The Burnley team was: Mark Crossley, Rob Henry, Jack Overson (Dean Stott), Tom Bradley, Paul Casey, Dale Underwood, Connor Smith (Ash Young), Nicky Platt, Adam Kay, Ali Akbar (Rob Turner), Cayne Hanley.