|
The young Clarets were already without regulars Joel Pilkington and Paul Scott through injury, but coach Terry Pashley was dealt another cruel blow just before kick off when the highly-promising Gary Carter pulled up in the pre-match warm-up session and was left to make his way forlornly back to the changing room.
A hasty reshuffle was required, with Mark Rasmussen, originally a sub, brought in, and Ryan Townsend and Danny Pitham now forming the central defensive duo. Stephen Richardson was moved to right back, where he had a fine game, and Ras, wearing 12, took the right side of midfield position.
Preston fielded most of the team which had won the opening game of the league season here 1-0, with the prolific Kelvin Langmead once again leading the attack.
Gawthorpe was indeed a picture on this beautiful, sunny day. Equally impressive was the sight of reserve team Supremo Ronnie Jepson in attendance and wearing a suit! Ignoring the cruel cries from the local wags of "What time does the court case start, Ron?" the Supremo stayed for the first half, before departing, presumably Bradford-bound.
Burnley, in 4-4-2, lined up: James Salisbury; Stephen Richardson, Danny Pitham, Ryan Townsend, Liam Eves (capt.); Mark Rasmussen, Sean Blakey, Richard Chaplow, Matthew O’Neill; Damien Hindle, Robert Grimes (Rhys Carpenter 46).
With both sides needing a win to qualify, it was not surprising that the opening stages were fast and furious. Salisbury saved well from an early freekick, and Hindle saw a fine effort flash just wide after great work from O’Neill.
After just 14 minutes the Clarets took the lead. Hindle chased a long ball into the area where a Preston defender inexplicably wrestled him to the ground for the season’s most blatant penalty. Ras grabbed the ball, and keeping his concentration whilst the Preston goalie indulged in some well-coached gamesmanship (taking long drink from water bottle, checking boot laces, waving away non-existent fly etc), satisfyingly planted the ball firmly past the no-longer smug custodian.
This spurred on the Clarets. Grimes shot just over after good work from Hindle, and a second goal looked imminent. Unfortunately it arrived at the wrong end. Townsend headed away a dangerous cross, but with no midfielder backing up Preston’s particularly foul-mouthed number 7 cracked in a superb low shot from 25 yards which gave Salty no chance. 23 minutes gone and 1-1.
Burnley refused to be upset by this and continued to dominate the play. The dangerous Langmead was being well contained and Preston rarely threatened. On the half hour Matty O’Neill produced another trademark mazy run, setting up Grimes for a shot which was desperately charged down.
This was only a stay of execution however, for in the next minute the Clarets regained the lead in somewhat farcical circumstances. A Preston defender tried a back header to his goalie, unaware that he had come charging out to collect the ball himself. Over his head sailed the ball giving the chasing Damien Hindle the easiest of goals. A bad mistake, but credit must go to Damien whose persistence forced the error.
Halftime arrived then with the Clarets 2-1 up, and deservedly so, and in fact Burnley started the second period where they had left off. Grimes again went close with a near post flick following yet another piece of Knocker magic, and the Clarets seemed to be coasting.
However all that changed in the 62nd minute as Preston were gifted a lifeline. Salty, under pressure, failed to hold a cross, and Blakey’s mistimed challenge just caught Langmead’s heels as he was chasing the loose ball. Penalty, despatched via a post for 2-2, without any gamesmanship this time.
Two minutes later and Preston were in front. The defence allowed Langmead a clear run on goal, and although his first effort was well blocked he still managed to force the rebound home.
The Clarets were visibly rocked. After seemingly in control they were now faced with having to score at least twice more to stay in the competition. Blakey had a goalbound shot blocked, and Chaplow’s effort from the rebound was well saved. But the effects of playing their third game in eight days were beginning to take their toll.
Preston, their tails now up, went for the kill. A great run out of defence by the sub resulted in a shot which was just over, but it came as no real surprise when a fourth goal was added just before time. As with the first, a cross was only half headed away, and a Preston forward had all the time in the world to volley home.
The ever-lively Hindle almost grabbed a third right on time, but his shot shaved a post instead.
A 4-2 defeat in an entertaining game, but again lapses in concentration had prevented a possible win. Once more, the attitude of the team was commendable, and as several of the 50 fans present commented, elimination from this competition may be no bad thing if the youth and reserve teams are effectively to become one and the same. If the youngsters are to be sacrificed so that we have no more first team runny noses there will have to be a limit to the number of games they can play.
There is no reserve game this coming week, so the lads can have a well-earned break. Next Saturday they are back in league action at Gawthorpe against Oldham, where we all expect to see Barry Kilby and his board in attendance as they rightly snub the obnoxious Franchise board pre-match.
Make sure you bring along plenty of refreshments, Barry!
