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Nelson draw for youths

Last updated : 27 August 2005 By Tony Scholes


It’s just a couple of minutes walk from the old ground at Seedhill that now looks a bleak spot, and houses a kids’ play area in the corner.

I cannot recall when Burnley last sent a team to play in Nelson but it was as strong a youth side as possible that kicked off this morning just as the Australians were about to lose their seventh wicket.

Chris McCann was on first team duty, whilst strikers Kyle Lafferty and Cayne Hanley were both missing with injury, although Kyle is expected to be out for no more than two weeks with an ankle injury.

We lined up: Mark Crossley, Rob Henry (Tom Blackler), Jack Overson (Raph Evans), Martin Reilly, Paul Casey, Ali Akbar, Connor Smith (Adam Kay), Nicky Platt, Dale Underwood, Marc Pugh, Jay Rodriquez (Rob Turner).

Ali Akbar gets a header at goal but it is deflected wide
After a pre-season of five defeats, but improved form with each game, we’ve got off to a winning start in the Youth Alliance League with victories over Chester and Rochdale, this was a free weekend and with the reserve game called off in midweek this game at Nelson proved invaluable.

Again though, we let slip a good lead, just as we had done in the opening league game against Chester. Then, having led 4-0 with not long on the clock, we saw the visitors pull three goals back and today when we looked to be coasting at 3-1, and it should have been more, we allowed the local North West Counties side to come back and earn a draw.

It really was an unlikely draw and we should have had it all tied up long before they came back but a combination of missed chances, some incredible offside decisions and some slack late defending meant we had to settle for a draw.

Marc Pugh played up front with Jay Rodriguez and it was Jay who gave us the lead in the first half only for the home side to equalise with a speculative lob. The Clarets came storming back and Pugh restored the lead before Ali Akbar extended it midway through the second half.

It all looked over, and coaches Vince Overson and Terry Pashley were able to make some changes, including the introduction of three players from the centre of excellence. It all went wrong though with two late goals from the home side and we had to settle for that draw.

The attendance was disappointing, and this was an opportunity to give the local side a boost financially, but the game was hardly advertised and that kept a number away.

The youth team are back in action next Saturday when they return to league action with a home game against league leaders Oldham who have got off to a superb start with two wins and no fewer than fifteen goals.


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