Late goal costs reserves

Clarke Carlisle - played after completing his suspension

A Morecambe win looked anything but likely in the first half as Burnley dominated the game although other than a couple of efforts from Rob Turner we didn't create too much in the way of clear cut chances. Turner was close with both though. The first followed a through ball that was well saved and the second was a shot that went just wide.

It was very much Burnley all the way and there wasn't too much for the experienced central defensive pairing of Michael Duff and Clarke Carlisle to do. It was good to see Carlisle back in action after completing his suspension and for Duff this was a seventh reserve game and I suspect a first team place could be his again very soon.

Despite being the better side in that first half we almost went in a goal down but Gabor Kiraly did really well to save and with it went the last action of the half.

Both central defenders were replaced, Carlisle at half time and Duff an hour into the game, to be replaced by Chris Lynch and Nik Kudiersky. Between those two changes Morecambe were reduced to ten men and were very lucky not to be reduced even further.

David Artell was yellow carded and was very fortunate indeed to stay on the field after comments towards the referee, but shortly afterwards Simon Grand rightly received a straight red after a challenge on Dean Stott that could only be described as a two footed lunge.

We never really made anything of the man advantage and the game became very scrappy and really did look to be heading for a 0-0 draw. Then as the fourth official was getting ready to hold up his board showing one extra minute they got the only goal of the game. It was a ball played over our defence and Aaron Taylor run onto it to lob it over Kiraly who had no chance.

That's the first leg of the double header out of the way - tomorrow we are off to Radcliffe to face Bury.

The teams were;

Burnley: Gabor Kiraly, Dean Stott, Michael Duff (Nik Kudiersky 60), Clarke Carlisle (Chris Lynch 45), Thomas Bradley, Adam Kay, John Spicer, Mark Randall (James Craggs 65), Garreth O'Connor, Alex MacDonald, Rob Turner. Subs not used: Jon Sergeant, Chris Anderson.

Morecambe: Jalal, Langford, Wisdom, Artell, Grand, Fitzpatrick, Lloyd, Jarvis, Taylor, Banks, Burns. Subs: Kelly, Woodword, Ashcroft, Bell.