Late goals bring big defeat for reserves

Last updated : 30 March 2010 By Tony Scholes
Steven Caldwell
Steven Caldwell - returned after over three months on the sidelines
It really is incredible, and for a game that attracted just 362 spectators and given the sparse numbers on either side of the big divide you can only assume that figure had included all those on duty to boost it.

The game brought a welcome return for club captain Steven Caldwell who has been out since limping off at Wolves in the last game before Christmas, and he lined up in a reserve side that was no dissimilar to the one that has played in the last couple of games at Wigan and Manchester United.

One change saw Nicky Weaver play in goal and we were thankful to him in the first half. On at least three occasions he made excellent saves to keep the score at 0-0, but by half time we were behind to goals from Franco Di Santo (I think he only scores against Burnley) and Maceo Rigters.

We couldn't really complain at the half time scoreline but we should certainly have been back in the game in the second half. Alex MacDonald had the ball in the net in the very first minute after the break, but the assistant referee continued with his difficult night.

I'm not sure whether the rugby league lines on the pitch were distracting him but how on earth he flagged this one offside only he will know. It could have set us up for a comeback but it was not to be although we faired considerably better in the second half.

We had a lot more of the play, caused them some problems and clearly should have had a penalty for handball and again it was hard to see just how the decision wasn't given.

When all our efforts led to nothing the home side came back at us. Weaver again saved well twice but in the closing minutes there was nothing he could do as Aaron Doran and then Di Santo again doubled the advantage.

The scoreline certainly didn't reflect our second half performance.

The teams were;

Blackburn: Mark Bunn, Lars Jacobsen, Josh Morris, Grant Hanley, Amine Linganzi, Vince Grella, Aaron Doran, Jason Lowe Michael Potts 78), Maceo Rigters (Nick Blackman 68), Franco Di Santo, Junior Hoilett (Zachery Aley 84). Subs not used: Jake Kean, Jackson Ramm.

Burnley: Nicky Weaver, Ben Hoskin, Kevin Long, Steven Caldwell, Jake McEneaney, Alex MacDonald (Michael King 72), Adam Kay (Dom Knowles 62), Joey Gudjonsson, Alex-Ray Harvey, Frédéric Nimani (Chris Anderson 62), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Danny McDonald, Curtis Woods.

Attendance: 362.