They showed so much composure, quality,grit and determination

Last updated : 08 December 2012 By Tony Scholes

I completed my report last night but there is so much more I could have added to it as every single one of those players did our club proud on as big a stage as its possible for them to play at this point in their career.

What a night too for two stalwarts of Burnley Football Club down on the touchline, Terry Pashley and Andy Farrell who helped mastermind yet another wonderful FA Youth Cup night for our club.

Pash was delighted at the end.  “You don’t get much tougher than coming here, and at Old Trafford you are always going to be classed as an underdog," he beamed after seeing his youngsters come away with a 4-3 extra time win.

“We were no different, but this is the cup and we have just caused a bit of an upset and whoever we get now, we can’t waste this result. It was a fantastic night and to a man they were fantastic. 

“They showed so much composure, quality and a lot of grit and determination because towards the end there were a lot of tired bodies out there. It got to the stage where it could have been anyone who came off because there was cramp wherever you looked. It’s just a fantastic night and a great result."

Having seen New Zealand international Cameron Howieson give us the lead, and then his striker Jason Gilchrist get a hat trick against the team he supports, Pash added: “The composure we showed was the most pleasing thing. We came here and got the ball down and played and passed.

“I think we more than matched them in the first half and we knew at half time there would be a bit of a reaction from them. They started quite well and as the game goes on we went behind, but Jason does what he does and got another three.

“He has played up there a number of times on his own and we know that if you give him a chance he knows where the net it. He has composure and awareness and he gets all types of goals, but the cross from Brad Jackson, who is only 15 by the way, was something else. 

“To go past I don’t know how many players and then put the pinpoint cross on Jason’s head was fantastic.

"It just shows again we have some good young players who have had a fantastic experience and it won’t get better than this.

“The manager was here watching and he’s been in the changing room before and after the game. He has an important game tomorrow, but he has taken time to stay and watch and I am sure the lads appreciate that. We certainly did as staff.”