Global win for Clarets

Last updated : 25 August 2010 By Tony Scholes
Kevin McDonald
Kevin McDonald wrapped it up with Burnley's third
When Kevin McDonald scored a deflected third, to complete the scoring, it ensured there would be no slip up against a side who had taken an early lead against us in the first half before we got anything like into our stride.

The goal also allowed Brian Laws to give both Michael King and Wes Fletcher a first ever taste of first team football, and all in all it proved to be a good night in the end, in what was our first ever competitive game against them.

I wasn't so sure what I was going to make of the new ground. I'd seen a couple of photographs and read some comments about it, but I have to say they have come very close to building a new ground that is no better, and possibly even worse, than the one they had before.

How the Globe Arena, with just one stand, and one side having nothing other than a few steps, is expected to take them forward I'm not sure, but it is hardly adequate for a side with an ambition to move up the league.

Still, I had a decent view from behind the goal, and saved myself a whole £1 by forgoing a seat at the end of the stand.

By the time I got in the players were warming up and it was very evident that Brian Laws had made considerable changes to the side that had beaten Leicester on Saturday. When the line ups were confirmed, only Clarke Carlisle and Wade Elliott remained.

It was, as many would say, a real opportunity for some of these players to impress, but so often these decisions backfire for clubs as the team struggles to get a grip on the game. It had certainly happened in the previous round when a much changed Coventry went out at the very same place.

We certainly started tentatively and didn't get into the game at all. Not as though Morecambe were offering too much; that was until the 12th minute when a former Burnley target gave them the lead.

The ball was played across from left to right and when Mark Duffy got the better of Brian Easton, he played in Phil Jevons, a player Stan Ternent tried to bring to Turf Moor, to score the opener, the goal being given despite cries of offside from both players and the Burnley fans on the side.

A snap shot from Chris Eagles was all we could muster, and one straight at goalkeeper Barry Roche and I was beginning to suspect this was going to be one difficult night for us with yet another potential shock exit from the competition. And it could have got worse as the home side came perilously close to getting a second.

We desperately needed to get back into the game and thankfully we did, right on the half hour. Jack Cork played the ball up for Steven Thompson who headed it down for Eagles to hit home right into the bottom corner with a first time shot.

It was a good goal; it was just what we needed, and one effort apart it really did bring to an end any hopes Morecambe might have had of claiming yet another Championship scalp.

By half time we could have been in front. Carlisle, captain for the night, hit over after a knock down from Leon Cort and then Jay Rod headed wide, but it was still 1-1 at half time when they tried to match us for cringeworthy entertainment whilst our fans struggle to manoeuvre themselves down the narrowest passageway in world football.

Burnley were much the better side in the second half, although we did come very close to going behind again. Referee Salisbury gave Morecambe a free kick just outside our box and they rattled the bar with it.

Was it a free kick? Probably not, and certainly by then you had more chance of picking six winning lottery numbers than working out just what this referee was going to do.

Mind you, he had no option when we finally did get in front just past the hour. Eagles got into the box on the left hand side, and was brought down with Salisbury not hesitating as he pointed to the spot. In truth, he had little option, it was as clear a penalty as you are likely to see.

We'd wondered who might take a penalty should we get one with Grezza not in the squad. The last time that happened was at Charlton in 2007 when Andy Gray scored his last Burnley goal. I suspected Jay Rod, and I wasn't the only one, Jay Rod did too, but Thommo was having none of it.

The senior man won, and he stroked it home to Roche's left with the keeper going the wrong way.

We collected a couple of yellow cards almost immediately, for Eckersley and Jay. Eckersley was pulled up for handball but he soon after came very close to getting a second yellow. Laws quickly withdrew him with Kevin McDonald coming on and David Edgar moving from the midfield to right back.

There was not going to be any way back now for Morecambe but Laws was getting ready to bring Chris Iwelumo on when we wrapped it all up with seven minutes remaining when McDonald, who did well during his short time on the pitch, hit a shot from outside the box. It took a deflection and that, as they say, was it.

Iwelumo immediately sat down, and, with the game won, Laws gave both Michael King and Wes Fletcher their first team debuts.

What a way to end the night. We'd come from behind to win, we'd scored our 250th goal in the League Cup since its inception in 1960, and two young lads who have come through the youth system at Burnley got onto the pitch. And the fish and chips were excellent, so almost a perfect night.

Now we await Saturday's draw to see who we get in the next round, and with our last nine cup ties having been away from home it really would be nice to get one on the Turf.

The teams were;

Morecambe: Barry Roche, Darren Moss (Paul Mullin 72), Andy Parrish, Chris McCready, Laurence Wilson, Paul Scott, Chris Shuker, Andrew Fleming (Garry Hunter 81), Craig Stanley (Stewart Drummond 81), Mark Duffy, Phil Jevons. Subs not used: Laurie Walker, James Spencer, Jim Bentley, Will Haining.
Yellow Cards: Paul Scott, Craig Stanley, Mark Duffy.

Burnley: Lee Grant, Richard Eckersley (Kevin McDonald 67), Clarke Carlisle, Leon Cort, Brian Easton, David Edgar, Wade Elliott, Jack Cork, Jay Rodriguez (Wes Fletcher 90), Steven Thompson, Chris Eagles (Michael King 90). Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Martin Paterson, Chris Iwelumo, Ross Wallace.
Yellow Cards: Richard Eckersley, Jay Rodriguez.

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Preston).

Attendance: 5,003.