Reserves win at home away

Cayne Hanley - scored the second goal

There was finally a game for Danny Coyne in goal in what was his first match action since October when he was injured at QPR whilst Graham Branch was in the starting line up having been out since being forced off at half time in the 0-0 draw against Reading.

Apart from that the team included coach Mark Yates, the young professionals and youth team players as we looked to win our second game of the season.

It was hardly a classic but the game did bring with it two excellent goals, one in each half, and we deserved the win. The defences were on top for much of the evening, with Neal Trotman and Chris McCann at the back for the Clarets, whilst in the centre of the Shrewsbury defence was Dave Walton who played for us in our pre-season game against Dundee United.

It was Walton who came closest to opening the scoring but Mark Yates, who was on the scoresheet last time he played at Accy, cleared the danger. At the other end the visiting keeper had to be quick to save an excellent Paul Scott shot from outside the box.

Eventually just a few minutes before the interval we went in front with a goal that stunned the crowd/gathering. Branchy collected the ball out wide on the right, turned inside and unleashed an unstoppable left foot shot into the far corner of the net.

It was just about the last of the action and the goal was very much part of the half time chat, to go along with Sunderland wide players and the fact that chairman Barry Kilby and manager Steve Cotterill were actually sat together and even seen talking to each other.

The first real action of the second half came from the fourth official who had to get the numbers right as coach Mark Yates decided to come off and was replaced by Nicky Platt.

Otherwise it was as quiet as the first half with little in terms of goalmouth action. Both sides could have scored but neither of them were able to create much. We made a couple more substitutions and the first of them saw Branchy come off (now ready for first team action again) and replaced by Cayne Hanley.

It was Hanley who was to guarantee the points by adding a second with just seven minutes to go and what another good goal it was although one so different from the first. The ball was played out to Marc Pugh on the right. The Burnley wide man skipped past the defender before pulling the ball back low for the incoming Hanley who finished so well with a shot into the bottom corner.

It was just a matter of playing out time after that and we did that with ease in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Interlink. Somehow it doesn’t feel right at all, there are suggestions that we are likely to be playing the remainder of our reserve games there this season. Personally I hope not and the sooner we get home the better.

The teams tonight were,

Burnley: Danny Coyne, Joel Pilkington, Neal Trotman, Chris McCann, Paul Scott (Martin Reilly 78), Marc Pugh, Joe Booth, Mark Yates (Nicky Platt 55), Matt O’Neill, Adam Jones, Graham Branch (Cayne Hanley 75). Subs not used: Michael Hale, Tom Ince.

Shrewsbury: Joe Hart, Gavin Cadwallader, Dave Ridler, Dave Walton, Liam Murray, Ryan Lowe, Carl Clampitt, Ciaran Lyng, Ross Stephens, John Grant, Pavell. Subs: Ian Havard, Henry Goh, Kevin Street, Gary Price, George Hughes.

Attendance: 106.

Fixtures and Results