Smith goal wins cup tie

Last updated : 25 January 2006 By Tony Scholes
Burnley on the attack in the second half

It was difficult to believe that the young Clarets had got that far without going in front after dominating the first half but when it came it was an excellent finish from Connor, chipping the keeper from twenty yards.

The goal came at the runway end of the ground, and it was the least we had deserved. We passed the ball around well on a difficult surface, created some chances but had been unable to find the net. In fact it was the home side that did score, but as they celebrated the referee acknowledged the offside flag.

The referee didn’t help, he nitpicked throughout the game and often didn’t give the impression there was any logic at all to his decision making – and more than once he stopped the young Clarets in their tracks with some strange decisions, none more so than when Dale Underwood broke clear down the right only to be pulled up.

You sensed that once in front we would go on to win the game comfortably so it was a real boost to go in at half time with the lead. However, Chester were back out a good few minutes before us for the second half when we saw something of a turn around.

This time it was to be the Clarets under some pressure and there were periods in the game when Chester really should have got themselves back into it. We defended well though, although we were thankful more than once that they were not the best of sides in front of goal.

We hung on though, to win through to a tie against Tranmere.

Team: Lee Matthews, Rob Henry, Tom Blackler, Martin Reilly, Paul Casey (Dean Stott), Dale Underwood, Connor Smith, Nicky Platt, Adam Kay (Rob Turner), Jay Rodriguez (Lewis Craig), Cayne Hanley.

Goalkeeper Lee Matthews as the transport arrives to bring the team home