Reserves back to winning ways

It was a game where the Clarets always seemed to have the edge, we looked sharper going forward and with John McGreal playing, a lot more assured at the back. Despite that the first chance of the game did fall to the home side but goalkeeper Mark Crossley was quickly off his line and get down to block the shot with his feet.

Danny Karbassiyoon had our first real chance but again it was a case of good goalkeeping with the Wrexham keeper getting down quickly to save well. He could do nothing about it when we did get in front through Nicky Platt midway through the half.

The ball dropped to Platt about ten yards outside the box and his first time shot nestled into the bottom corner to the keeper’s right. It was a good finish from the youth team captain and at we probably just about deserved our lead.

The second half was at times scrappy, and there was little goalmouth action, but in a five minute spell Wrexham came close to drawing level before we went on to clinch the points. A Wrexham player picked up the ball around the half way line and at the end of a superb run crashed a shot against the post. The ball dropped kindly for them but they missed the opportunity with a shot that was blazed high and wide.

It was an escape for the Clarets and in our next attack we clinched the points with another good goal. This time the architect was Karbassiyoon who got down the left before getting in a cross from the left wing. Rob Turner met it at the far post with a header that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

It was a reasonable performance, a good one considering that five of the team had played the full two hours in the youth game on Monday. They certainly benefited from the presence of Johnny Mac. Being stood down by the touchline it was easy to hear his talking throughout the game, his support of the players around him, and I’m sure Duane Courtney will have learned so much playing alongside him for ninety minutes.

The stars of the show though were the two ladies who were able to supply us with hot soup throughout the evening – it was much appreciated.

The teams were,

Wrexham: Michael Jones, Phil Gray (Mark Harris 45), Matty Done, Graham Roche (Chris Marriott 45), Gareth Evans, Mike Williams, Levi Mackin, Andy Fleming, Marc Williams, Aaron Braisdell (Alex Darlington 70), Chris Evans. Subs not used: Chris Maxwell, Mark Stewart.

Burnley: Mark Crossley, Ron Henry, Duane Courtney, John McGreal, Martin Reilly, Marc Pugh, Nicky Platt, Adam Kay, Danny Karbassiyoon, Cayne Hanley, Rob Turner. Subs not used: Lee Matthews, Paul Casey, Jack Overson, Dale Underwood, Jay Rodriguez.