Trialists get the goals in win at Ashton

Last updated : 17 July 2015 By Tony Scholes

Burnley, playing in the new home shirt but with white shorts and socks, had most of the play in the first half but it wasn't a 45 minutes to get too excited about. There were chances and most of them went our way.

Jamie Frost saw an effort go just wide and Jason Gilchrist looked to be having a one man battle with home goalkeeper Paul Phillips. He denied the Burnley striker on at least two occasions and when Gilchrist did beat him the crossbar came to the goalkeeper's rescue.

But it wasn't riveting stuff at the sun drenched Hurst Cross, although things did brighten up in the second half.

The first goalscorer

We might have fallen behind but for Danijel Nizic in our goal but it was Burnley who went ahead on 63 minutes from one of the trialists. He received the ball from Josh Dolling and did really well to turn and fire in a shot from just inside the box and across the keeper to the far post.

At that stage an Ashton comeback looked unlikely, but just eight minutes later they did draw level. A left wing cross from Joel Melia eluded Nizic and allowed Martin Pilkington to head home from close range.

Burnley responded quickly and we were back in front within a minute. The ball was played to a trialist who had come on at half time and he beat substitute goalkeeper Lewis Hindley to restore the lead.

We might have had more goals and Gilchrist, who came back on for the injured first goalscorer, might have finally got himself a goal only to be stopped in his tracks by the defender before he saw yet another shot saved.

It had been a much better second half and the first goalscoring trialist certainly impressed the watching Burnley fans.

So a pleasant night out at a friendly club where we were made very welcome, and they even got the programmes ready for us. The next game for the development squad will be next Friday when we face Sheffield away.

The teams tonight were;

Ashton: Paul Phillips (Lewis Hindley), Kyle Jacobs, Steve Mason, Jay Gorton, Joe Connor, Will Haining, Lee Rick, Gary Gee, Dale Johnson, Adam Morning, Max Harrop. Subs: Kevin Leadbetter, Martin Hill, Martin Pilkington, Aaron Morris, Dominic Barrett, Joel Melia.

Burnley: Danijel Nizic, Trialist 1, Shaun Hobson, Alex Whitmore, Trialist 2, Nathan Lowe (Andreas Bianga ht), Jamie Frost, Aiden O'Neill, Brad Jackson (Trialist 4 ht), Trialist 3 (Jason Gilchrist 80), Jason Gilchrist (Josh Dolling ht). Sub not used: Conor Mitchell.