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| Our first equaliser came from Cameron Dummigan |
Having beaten Wigan, Crewe, Sunderland, Bolton and Exeter we were paired with Manchester City, one of the country's top academy under-21 teams, and gave a really good account of ourselves, twice coming from behind before conceding a third goal a quarter of an hour from the end.
I don't know how much City have spent to put their Elite Development Squad together, but there is more than an international flavour to the team coached by the former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira.
With Cameron Dummigan, Luke Conlan and Cameron Howieson, our three internationals back on duty we had as strong a side out as possible with the exception of Archie Love who missed out because of an injury.
And we started very brightly but were then caught as Manchester nearly took the lead and then a minute later did just that. Firstly Sinan Bytyqi set up Seko Fofana who hit the post and then Bytyqi finished himself with an excellent finish from the right of goal, placing his shot just inside the far post.
Burnley were not put off their game by this early goal and came right back into things. Steven Hewitt, playing in an advanced role, was just off target with one effort but when the equaliser came on 22 minutes it was one to savour as Dummigan let fly from over 25-yards on the right to hit a powerful shot across the goalkeeper that flew in at the far post to delight the visiting supporters in the sparse crowd.
Unfortunately, City had probably their best spell following that goal and with five minutes remaining in the first half they regained their lead as Jordy Mayifuila converted from close range following a cross from the very impressive Bytyqi.
By this point, posters on the message board thought I was making words up for Scrabble as I named the City players.
It was 2-1 at half time and City came out all guns blazing after the break. A third goal then might just have ended the contest but Burnley fought well and then had a great spell themselves that saw us get a second equaliser.
More good work down the right from Dummigan ended with us winning a corner. The flag kick reached Tom Anderson at the far post. He headed the ball down for Jason Gilchrist to volley home from close range.
With new coach Andy Farrell, alongside Tony Loughlan, orchestrating things from the touchline it was very much game on and we were a whisker from taking the lead when another Anderson header was this time saved by goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.
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| and the second scored by Jason Gilchrist |
For a while it looked as though the game could go either way but in the end it was the home side who won it with Bytyqi getting his second with just those 15 minutes remaining.
Just a few minutes later only referee Michael Salisbury will know how on earth he chose not to award us a penalty for a pull back, but he waved us away with the assistant looking totally bemused by the whole thing.
From there, City went down and almost made it 4-2, and perhaps they should have done with Bytyqi this time hitting his shot against the net support.
We've had some late drama in the games in this competition this season but this time it wasn't to be and we bowed out with City now going on to face Reading in the two legged final.
What a disappointment there were only just over 400 there to see it. The late change of venue didn't help but why on earth City didn't allow this game to be played at the Etihad only they will know.
But a massive well done to our lads. A good number of those involved were in the youth squads of the last two seasons when we've reached an FA Youth Cup semi-final (2011/12) and then beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford (2012/13).
Once again this season they've done themselves and Burnley Football Club proud with their achievements in this inaugural season of the new Under-21 cup.
The teams were;
Manchester City: Ian Lawlor, Mathias Bossaerts (Adam Drury 61), Shay Facey, Ellis Plummer, Greg Leigh (Jose Tasende ht), Olivier Ntcham, George Glendon, Seko Fofana, Sinan Bytyqi, Devante Cole (Marcos Lopes 72). Subs not used: Billy O'Brien, Jason Denayer.
Burnley: Danijel Nizic, Cameron Dummigan, Alex Coleman, Tom Anderson, Luke Conlan (Luke Daly 84), Micah Evans, Nathan Lowe (Jamie Frost 69), Luke Gallagher, Cameron Howieson, Steven Hewitt, Jason Gilchrist. Subs not used: Callum Jakovlevs, Jack Errington, Ntumba Massanka.
Referee: Michael Salisbury (Preston).
Attendance: 424.