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The build up had been a difficult one for the young Clarets. The recent poor weather had seen both reserve and youth team fixtures hit and there had also been injury and illness in the camp, mainly affecting defender Dan Brown and midfielder Chris Anderson.
The good news was that both were in our starting line up and the only player out of the squad was goalkeeper Danny McDonald.
The youth system in English football is very much about the haves and have nots, with some clubs having academy status and others not. It really isn't a level playing field and this, certainly for now, leaves Burnley at something of a disadvantage.
We don't play sides such as West Brom on a regular basis so it was going into the unknown and certainly was for myself and the other fans sat in the Bob Lord Stand. The early part of the game confirmed any fears we might have had as West Brom certainly started much the brighter of the two teams.
Stef Ritchie, who had a top game in goal for the Clarets, made his first save just a few minutes in as the Baggies took control of the game. But despite them looking the better side they didn't offer up too much in the way of shots at goal and with our defence in top form we were able to hold them at bay.
As the half wore on so we started to come into the game and we had the ball in the net through Wes Fletcher only for it to be ruled offside. The last ten minutes or so of the half was spent with the Clarets taking the initiative and although we perhaps were a bit fortunate to go in at the interval level there were some really positive signs that the second half might be better for us.
As the teams came back out for that second half I don't think any of us could have been prepared for the sensational action of the first quarter of an hour or so. There were four goals, a bad miss and a terrific save that left the Clarets heading for victory.
West Brom were the first with a chance but again Ritchie was equal to it with, tipping over a shot from outside the box. This really was a good save although he was to better it later.
That was with just two minutes of the half gone but having survived the resulting corner we went down and took the lead. Fletcher burst forward and saw Michael King storming in on the left. He laid the ball across to him and King hammered his shot into the corner.
Then it was the turn of James Craggs to take centre stage. Twice he broke into the West Brom box at pace. The first time he saw his shot go narrowly over but he was brought down the second time and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Fletcher stepped up to take the penalty, sent the keeper the wrong way, and Burnley were two up and surely heading for victory.
Incredibly two became three a couple of minutes later and from another superb finish. King this time was the provider from the left and his cross found Dominic Knowles on the right of the box and he hit a superb shot into the corner.
It was amazing stuff and the goals just kept coming. Within a minute of the third Albion pulled one back to dull the excitement and almost immediately should probably have had a second but pulled their shot wide.
We had a difficult few minutes at 3-1 as they pressed forward and it was during this time that Ritchie made his best save of the night. He somehow got down to his right to keep out a shot from close range, but he didn't just stop it, he actually held on to it. A stunning save.
That seemed to end the pressure and I thought from that moment on the game looked safe and so it was. We played out the rest of the game with no worries whatsoever, and Terry Pashley also got chance to make some substitutions to give three others a taste of playing on Turf Moor.
It is unfair to single out individuals, I think we all have our own ideas on who were the outstanding players tonight. My man of the match was the team as a whole. They really did us proud and I'm sure I can say a big well done to them on behalf of everyone who was there.
It's Everton next, and it's at home. Whoever makes these decisions, please get it right and ensure this game is played exactly where it should be played, on Turf Moor.
Well done lads, you can be really proud of yourselves tonight.
The teams were;
Burnley: Stef Ritchie, Dan Brown, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Jake McEneaney, James Craggs, Chris Anderson, Alex-Ray Harvey, Michael King (Oliver Devenney 78), Dominic Knowles (Dil Chaggar 78), Wes Fletcher (Liam Newman 84). Subs not used: Ben Woodhead, Ed Williams.
West Brom: Ryan Allsop, Matthew Pike, Mo Saied, George Thorne, Jamal Clarke, Paul Downing, Josh Knight (Chris Woods 54), Sam Manton, Romaine Sawyers, Lateef Elford-Alliyu, Kayleden Brown (Seb Lake-Gaskin 78). Subs not used: Dwayne Samuels, Lee Lynch, Zak Martin.
