Reserves start year with a win

Last updated : 04 January 2006 By Tony Scholes

Marc Pugh - back amongst the goals
We won it 2-0 but for some time it looked as though we might have to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw, as the home defence kept us at bay. The first goal came midway through the second half but we should have been in front before that. A mix of missed chances and good saves had prevented that.

At times the players looked somewhat rusty having not played for some weeks, Duane Courtney and Lee Grant haven’t had a game since the last reserve team outing at the end of November.

It was a second half substitution that helped bring about the first goal when Rob Turner came on for Ali Akbar. Turner went up front with Marc Pugh moving out onto the right hand side and came close to scoring with his first two touches of the ball.

Firstly the Rochdale keeper saved well from Pugh but could only parry the ball towards Turner who hit his shot towards goal but could only watch as a defender was positioned on the line to make a brilliant clearance.

Almost immediately afterwards he was in again and this time the keeper made the save of the match, getting down low to his left. But we were in front a couple of minutes later when Marc Pugh latched onto a ball into the box and this time the keeper had no chance.

There was only going to be one winner after that and Pughy added a second with a well struck shot to ensure the points went our way.

The good news for Burnley is that everyone came through the game without injury including Wayne Thomas who took a knock in the first half but shook it off to complete the game.

It will be another two weeks before the next reserve game, the away game against Wrexham next week has been called off because of the Youth Cup tie, and is the return fixture against Rochdale in what will be our first home game at Accy since the beginning of October.

The Burnley team tonight was: Lee Grant, Rob Henry (Jack Overson), Wayne Thomas, Duane Courtney, Martin Reilly, Ali Akbar (Rob Turner), Adam Kay, Nicky Platt, Danny Karbassiyoon, Marc Pugh, Cayne Hanley. Subs not used: Dale Underwood, Jay Rodriquez, Paul Casey.