Youths back to winning ways

Alex Taylor - another goal sandwiched between two for Kyle Lafferty

Just after the half hour mark the clarets found their feet. Cayne Hanley, playing on the right wing, received the ball close to the half way line. He looked up and played a deep cross in to the box, picking out the run of Lafferty perfectly. His deft header evaded the despairing dive of the keeper and crept just inside the post. 1-0.

Shortly after the kick-off Stockport had their first real attempt at goal with a snapshot, which deflected of the closing defender, though keeper Michael Hale got across smartly to save.

Just before half time the Clarets had a great opportunity and Lafferty again played a huge part. He received the ball on the left wing close to the half way line and turned his marker. He ran up the wing and cut inside, drawing the defenders to him, and opening gaps up in the middle. His square ball picked up Alex Taylor who took a touch before blasting past the keeper. He was to be unlucky as his shot hit the inside of the post and flew across the goalmouth.

The second half brought more Clarets chances though the ref obviously found his cards at half time. Barely one minute in saw a booking for Nicky Platt after a late challenge. Within ten minutes his midfield partner Darrell Avery joined him in the book along with an opponent.

Avery appeared to win the ball but the Unprofessional on the deck didn’t like it and lashed out. The ref felt a booking each was the correct decision, though watching fans were quick to offer him their glasses.

The Clarets didn’t lose their focus though and Taylor had a plethora of chances in quick succession 15 minutes in. Firstly he took a little too long on the ball as he looked to create an opening, then he fired just wide from a tight angle after some neat work following a goalmouth scramble.

He wasn’t to be denied though as the lively Tom Ince picked up the ball and started a mazy dribble, riding numerous challenges, before slipping the ball to the deadly Taylor who slid it past the keeper and into the net. 2-0.

A short break in the Clarets pressure saw a Stockport chance, with Hale being called on to impressively tip over a long range drive.

Rob Henry was on the receiving end of a stiff tackle from a Stockport substitute, which saw the newcomer to the game booked. Another junior Unprofessional was booked as Ince was hacked in the corner. The free kick was delivered across the face of the goal by Platt but somehow evaded everyone.

Ali Akhbar entered the game for Ince who couldn’t recover sufficiently from the challenge and was soon joined on the pitch by Jamie Robertson, who replaced hamstring victim Cayne Hanley. The game quietened down for a stretch, though Akhbar picked up a booking for a late challenge on the full back who ended Ince’s involvement in the game.

The scoring was completed on 85 mins as Kyle Lafferty sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot. A good period of keepball ended with full back Martin Reilly breaking into the box and drawing the foul, allowing Lafferty to step up and finish it. 3-0.

The win is revenge for the 1-0 defeat we suffered to Stockport earlier in the season and a result that moves us above them and into 2^nd place in the league.

Burnley Line-up :- Michael Hale, Rob Henry, Martin Reilly, Neil Trotman, Chris McCann, Darrel Avery, Nicky Platt, Cayne Hanley (Jamie Robertson), Tom Ince (Ali Akhbar), Kyle Lafferty, Alex Taylor.

Burnley’s Fixtures and Results

League Table (currently before this weekend’s fixtures)