|
It is perhaps wrong to single out individuals tonight, each and every one of our players played their part but there is no doubt that the central defensive partnership of Townsend and Neal Trotman was the rock on which it was all built.
We were nearly off to a bad start when Tranmere’s Chris Dagnall, a major threat at this level, broke clear and took it past goalkeeper Michael Hale before seeing Gary Carter get back to clear superbly off the line.
It certainly wasn’t all Tranmere though and we were attacking well with Marc Pugh getting the better of the visitors down our right hand side on countless occasions. Burnley put the Tranmere defence under some pressure but were unable to make the most of a couple of good opportunities.
It was back to goal line clearances with one at both ends – Trotman was the hero at one end and then Tranmere cleared from under the bar when Kyle Lafferty was able to get in a header.
The first half was entertaining stuff and we had more than held our own against the FA Youth Cup Quarter-Finalists.
After the interval attacking the Cricket Field Stand we started well and it was Tranmere doing the defending as the Clarets began to get on top. And this spell proved to be decisive as we went in front from a corner.
Pugh’s right wing flag kick was headed down by a defender but only as far as Townsend who hammered the ball home into the top corner – what a week it has been for the Mancunian Australian following his first team debut.
Tranmere didn’t like it and the fouls started along with the abuse but it nearly cost them another goal as they gave away a free kick outside their own box. Joe Booth curled the kick agonisingly wide of the post.
The Clarets did have some defending to do but they did it so well that only occasionally was Hale needed but when they did get through the keeper was able to deal with everything in an accomplished performance.
Sadly Tranmere started to lose their heads and it is so difficult to believe that they ended the game with eleven players still on the pitch but they owe that to the ridiculous handling of it by Darwen referee Tony Leake.
The first incident sparked after a bad foul on Carter with players from both sides reacting. One Tranmere player decided to deal with it all and clearly head butted a Burnley player. It was right in front of the referee and he amazingly waved just the yellow card.
Then after conceding a free kick the visiting right-back decided to take a wild kick at Tom Ince but Leake did no more than wag a finger at him.
Burnley though remained calm and survived the five minutes added on comfortably to win through the final.
After Saturday they have restored some pride tonight and they can now look forward to the final against Wigan or Oldham. What a pity that there were only 218 there to see it, they deserved far more than that.
Well done lads, and best of luck in the final.
The teams tonight were:
Burnley: Michael Hale, Gary Carter, Neal Trotman, Ryan Townsend, Danny Pitham, Marc Pugh, Darrell Avery (Adam Jones 45), Joe Booth, Nicky Platt, Tom Ince, Kyle Lafferty (Cayne Hanley 80). Subs not used: Mark Crossley, Rob Henry, William Euxton.
Tranmere: Phil Palethorpe, James Vaughan, Carl Tremarco, Paul Martin, Gary Pinch, Oliver James (Gary Lovell 38), Mike Jones, Joe Fowler, Chris Dagnall, Adam Dickinson, Steve Davies (James Quadrio 83). Subs not used: Stephen Longrigg, Michael Johnston, Kieran Owens.
Referee: Tony Leake (Darwen).
Attendance: 218.