It's raining in Burnley

L-R: Michael Hale, Ross Preston, Lee Roche and Mark McGregor prepare to defend a corner

It was a different look to the reserves with the first team substitutes all playing and there was hope that they might kick start the team’s season with a first win.

We started well enough and the opening exchanges seemed to all be at the Cricket Field End as Hull at times defended desperately to keep the eager Clarets out. Youngster Alex Taylor header one chance over the bar but when his second opportunity arrived midway through the half he made no mistake at all with an excellent header from a Luke Chadwick cross.

Chadwick was showing a great appetite for the game and was involved in much of our good play, his attitude really was a credit and he was enjoying himself so much that later in the game he turned down the chance to come off and went on to play the entire ninety minutes.

Earl Davis with the fourth official about to make his return

We all expected to see the likes of Facey and Chadwick take a rest but they came out for the second half and incredibly we fell behind with a well taken headed goal. Surely we weren’t set to lose another game.

But Chadwick had other ideas and hit home a free kick from just outside the box to bring us level at 2-2 and then Tom Ince (on for the disappointing Facey) crossed for Chadwick to grab a second and what proved to be the winner.

There was just time for a welcome return for Earl Davis who came on for the ever improving youngster Ross Preston with Lee Roche moving to full back. It was good to see Earl back in action after so long out with injury.

Winter is here - time for the travel rugs and flasks in the Bob Lord

Chadwick deserved to score the winning goal after all they are trying to snatch his goal away from him from last night. But his attitude was first class tonight and something that all the young lads in the squad can learn from.

Stan won’t know what to do soon when he comes to naming his side. Apart from Chadwick building up his fitness Paul Weller played a full ninety minutes while Mark McGregor also got another full game under his belt.

So the reserves bid farewell to home games for 2003, the next time they take to the field at Turf Moor will be on 28^th January. At least we have finally got a win.

The teams were,

Burnley: Michael Hale, Ross Preston (Earl Davis 82), Mark McGregor, Lee Roche, Danny Pitham, Luke Chadwick, Paul Weller, Joel Pilkington, Matt O’Neill, Alex Taylor (Marc Pugh 87), Delroy Facey (Tom Ince 50). Subs not used: Darrel Avery, Ryan Townsend.

Hull: Danny Harvey, Carl Regan, Nathan Peat, Ed O’Neill, Justin Whittle, John Anderson, Simon Russell, Dean Keates, (James Tomlinson 73), Danny Webb, Clayton Donaldson (Tom Matthews 78), Andy Holt. Subs: Liam Cattermole, Michael Byron, Michael Cooper.