So unlucky as Clarets suffer final defeat

Cayne Hanley - scored the Burnley goal right on half time

People were still trying to get in as the game got underway at 7 o’clock, yes there had been queues at the all too few turnstiles, but for those of us already in our seats it was a very bright opening from the Clarets attacking the cricket field end.

Swindon were hardly in it during the opening exchanges and the Clarets were looking to attack them down the flanks through Marc Pugh and Tom Ince. Ince in particularly was involved in just about everything as we looked to try and grab an early lead.

When we did get chances they were either scorned or found the Swindon keeper in top form and he made two excellent saves to keep his side level, his best when he got down low to keep out a Hanley effort.

But there was nothing he could do when the Clarets finally took the lead right on half time and it came from a throw in on the right hand side. It was the simplest of goals as captain Neal Trotman’s long throw was flicked on by Pugh and there was Hanley to stab it home from close range.

The lads left the field at half time to a standing ovation after a top first half although we probably should have been going in two or three goals in front.

The second half never quite lived up to the first for the Clarets but we were still the better side and again the Swindon keeper had to make more good saves to keep his side in the game.

Twice though Swindon had great chances to level things but failed to find the target. The first they completely miscued and the second attempt went somewhere close to the back row of the stand.

It started to get a bit niggly and the referee seemed oblivious to the shirt pulling and pushing that was going on. He wasn’t though when Rob Henry won the ball superbly on the touchline just inside our own half.

Astonishingly, as well as giving a free kick, he yellow carded Henry for what was clearly a fair challenge. From that Swindon won a corner on the left but made a real hash of it and played it straight out of play.

The assistant was busy doing something else, didn’t spot it and we had to get the ball out for another corner, this time on the right. The corner was hit over, Crossley came for it but couldn’t hold it and Swindon headed in.

There was just over a minute to go plus an extra four minutes stoppage time and try as they might we couldn’t get another goal and had to go into extra time. And just to make matters worse Hanley had to be substituted immediately after the goal with an injury.

The first fifteen minutes was fairly even but twice we could easily have had penalties as first Joe Booth and then Trotman were clearly held back as free kicks were played into the Swindon box.

Neither keeper had much to do and it looked as though both sides might be settling for penalties. Burnley came storming back in the last quarter of an hour though and put Swindon under some real pressure.

We were nearly caught out though and were thankful to Crossley for one outstanding save as we turned a shot away right down by his right hand post.
 
For much of the time though it was the Clarets who were pressing but the chance didn’t come and when the referee blew it was a 1-1 draw and penalties.

Swindon keeper Bulman had played well and somewhat surprisingly he took the first spot kick. He scored and then saved our first effort from Joe Booth. That was it and all the other penalties were as Swindon won it 5-3.

It was a cruel end for the young Clarets, a cruel end to the season which they so deserved to end with some success.

For some of these players it might have been their last ever game on the Turf – should they be leaving they do so knowing that they have contributed to one of the best seasons at youth level for years. They will go with our thanks and our best wishes.

The teams were,

Burnley: Mark Crossley, Rob Henry, Neal Trotman, Chris McCann, Martin Reilly, Marc Pugh, Nicky Platt, Joe Booth, Tom Ince, Kyle Lafferty, Cayne Hanley (Rob Turner 88). Subs not used: Michael Hale, Jack Overson, Tom Blackler, Dale Underwood.

Swindon: Matty Bulman, Gary Pryde, David Stroud (Lukas Jutkiewicz 77), Scott Doe, Leigh Henry, Chris Allen, Sam Morris (Michael Pook 64), Ben Wells, Lance Lewis (Kyle Lapham 64), Ashan Holgate, Andy Caton. Subs not used: Jon Stewart, Andy Westhall.

Attendance: 1,230.