Reserves come from behind to win

Last updated : 08 September 2005 By Tony Scholes

Marc Pugh - scored the winning goal
There was a stronger look to the Burnley side than is usually the case with players returning from injury getting a run out alongside some of the new singings. It didn’t though bring about a good start and it was pretty dire stuff during the first twenty minutes.

That was finally broken with Wrexham taking the lead with a shot at the far post following a cross from the right wing. The response was almost immediate for the Clarets and Kyle Lafferty should have done much better than to head over from just a few yards out following a cross from Wade Elliott.

Burnley did get into the game a little after that but we never really threatened the Wrexham defence and it as no surprise when we went in a goal down at half time.

Whatever they put in the tea at half time certainly had an effect and within ten minutes of the restart we were in front. The first came after we won a corner on the right hand side. Elliott’s flag kick was headed on and the latest recruit Duane Courtney got his Burnley debut off to a superb start with a volley that rocketed into the net.

Shortly after it was Marc Pugh who got himself on the scoresheet with a well struck shot from a few yards outside the penalty box. Placed into the bottom corner it gave the visiting keeper no chance.

From then there was only really going to be one winner and really we should have extended that lead on a couple of occasions but Kyle was not at his sharpest in front of goal and they both went begging.

Brian Jensen had to scramble across his line to keep out one Wrexham effort but then Chris McCann twice came close for the Clarets, hitting a shot from distance just over before having a header cleared off the line just before the referee brought it to an end.

Manager Steve Cotterill covered some ground as he moved from directors box to technical area on a number of occasions and his last visit saw Frank Sinclair and Wade Elliott brought off having both played most of the game.

It was hardly a night to get excited about but apparently it was somewhat better than watching the latest episode of Sven’s England. And it gave the home fans their first sighting of Courtney and John Spicer.

I suspect Steve Cotterill will have a few more players to select from on Saturday with everyone appearing to come through this OK, and we moved up the table as well.

The teams were,

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Duane Courtney, Frank Sinclair (Rob Henry 70), Keith Lowe, Martin Reilly, Wade Elliott (Nicky Platt 75), John Spicer, Chris McCann, Marc Pugh (Ali Akbar 73), Karl Bermingham, Kyle Lafferty. Sub not used: Mark Crossley.


Wrexham:
Michael Evans, Mark Harris, Matty Done, Simon Spender, Gareth Evans, Mike Williams, Andy Fleming, Dean Bennett (Aaron Braisdell 73), Marc Williams, Jamie Reed (Alex Darlington 87), Chris Evans (Sion Edwards 81). Sub not used: Chris Mullock.