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FIFA see the first win of the season

Last updated : 23 August 2003 By Tony Scholes

There was a decent crowd at the training ground this morning as rain threatened that included a FIFA observer who spent the entire 90 minutes wandering round and taking everything in. No doubt all will be sent back to Sepp Blatter who won’t understand a word of it.

Coach Terry Pashley was able to recall Gary Carter for the first time since a serious injury in last season’s FA Youth Cup tie against Crystal Palace but the player who broke his collar bone was back out of the action very quickly with what looked like a calf strain.

Rhys Carpenter was also back after injury but it was once again an inexperienced Burnley side. Visitors Blackpool started the better side but the Burnley defence was looking in good form with Neal Trotman and Ryan Townsend on top.

There were some scary moments though and a couple of top saves by Michael Hale and a little bit of luck enabled us to keep the game goalless.

If things aren’t bad enough with the lack of players at the club right now we even had to make a couple of substitutions during the first half with Ross Preston, today playing in his more favoured midfield, joining Gary Carter on the injured list. Thankfully neither injury looked too serious.

Eventually the Clarets got themselves into the game and benefited from wide players Marc Pugh and Tom Ince switching to their preferred sides and along with some excellent prompting from Darrel Avery we started to take the game to Blackpool.

Probably a 0-0 half time scoreline was about right but deep into the stoppage time allowed for the injuries we took the lead with Carpenter finishing expertly after running onto a ball in the box.

That must have given the young Clarets a boost and we looked a different proposition in the second 45 minutes and quickly doubling our lead when new scholar Alex Taylor once again showed his sharpness in front of goal as he tucked his shot away after being put clear by Avery.

We were very much the better side now but again Hale had to be alert as the Seasiders threatened to get back into the game but the one clear chance they had went wide.

With just under 20 minutes to go we scored the best goal of the game when the ball was knocked to Tom Ince on the left hand side of the box. He beat his man before hitting an unstoppable shot into the far corner giving the Blackpool keeper no hope.

That just about ensured the club’s first competitive victory of the season but there was just time for Taylor to add his second and complete the scoring and to give Terry Pashley’s team their first points of the season.

Quite what Sepp Blatter will make of it though is anyone’s guess.

Burnley lined up in 4-4-2:

Michael Hale, Danny Pitham, Neal Trotman, Ryan Townsend, Gary Carter, Tom Ince, Ross Preston, Darrel Avery, Marc Pugh, Rhys Carpenter, Alex Taylor.

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