U21S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-3 COVENTRY CITY

Quickfire double condemns young Clarets to defeat

A much-changed Burnley U21s side were beaten 3-2 by Coventry City in the Professional Development League on Friday afternoon, with two goals in a minute making all the difference.

Mikey O’Neill opened the scoring at Victory Park in Chorley, with Lewis Richardson the other Burnley scorer on a warm and sunny afternoon.

The young Clarets named an experimental line-up, with Will Hugill and Richardson the only players to keep their place from Tuesday’s Central League Cup triumph.

U18s goalkeeper Lewis Forshaw was given a start, as were Basilio Socoliche, Michael Parker and Ackeme Francis-Burrell, al of whom came off the bench at Pride Park.

The opening goal came in the 17th minute and was created by smart footwork by Richardson.

After several twists and turns he had an effort blocked and the ball fell to Socoliche, who set up O’Neill to convert from close range.

That kicked Coventry into life and Forshaw produced a strong save to deny Aidan Dausch, who then completely missed another chance with the goal at his mercy.

The visitors eventually equalised through a Bradley Stretton penalty with five first half minutes to play.

Parity didn’t last long, though, as Richardson controlled a Hugill pass with his chest, burst forward and won a penalty that he coolly converted.

Manager Andy Farrell then started to shuffle his pack, with defenders Murray Campbell and Joe Ashton and striker Joe Westley coming on.

Both sides were now creating chances and Forshaw produced a couple of smart saves before Dausch struck twice in quick succession, picking out opposite corners.

Burnley pushed towards the end but couldn’t find an equaliser, meaning they stay 5th in the Professional Development League table with one game to play.

Burnley: Forshaw, Trialist A, Parker (Ashton 57), Trialist B, Trialist C, Hugill, Socoliche, Francis-Burrell (Campbell 57), O’Neill, Richardson (Westley 62), Trialist D (Bevan 76)

Unused Subs: Moss

Coventry City: Lines, Siddall, Perry, Mantle, Ryan, Betsemann, B. Stretton, Andrews, Trialist, Finney, Dausch

Subs: M. Stretton, Rachel, Blakely, Gordon, Greenslade

Goals: O’Neill 17’, Stretton 40’, Richardson 48’, Dausch 80’, 81’