Reserves end the year unbeaten after latest victory

UNBEATEN totesport.com Reserve Division West leaders Burnley picked up another three points in their last game of the year on Monday night.

Immediately after the club’s AGM, Ashley Hoskin’s side turned in another enterprising display to see off Tranmere Rovers 2-0 at Turf Moor, with goals from Dominic Knowles and Alex-Ray Harvey.

Again it was a young reserve side, against a Tranmere team containing former Claret Alan Mahon and one-time trialist Marlon Broomes, but Burnley were the better side throughout and made their superiority tell after the break.

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The Clarets had a couple of openings in the first half, without really hitting the heights, with the best chance seeing Ross Wilson find the side netting after a neat pass from right back Curtis Woods.

In the second half, however, Burnley got their noses in front with a flowing move.

Keeper Craig Mawson’s quick distribution found Knowles, who fed Harvey, to turn it wide to Ed Williams. His cross was met by Alex MacDonald, and although his effort was blocked, Knowles was on hand to ram in the loose ball.

It was one-way traffic after that, but the Clarets could only add one more goal, with their play deserving more.

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Harvey’s strike beat Rovers keeper Joe Collister with the aid of a deflection, for his first reserve team goal of the season.

That proved more than sufficient to take the points, as the reserves extended their outstanding form this season.

Burnley: Mawson, Woods, Kudiersky, C. Lynch, E. Williams (Overson 81), Wilson, Anderson, Harvey, Taylor (Jackson 74), Knowles, MacDonald. Subs not used: Cook, Edwards, Yadolahi, D. Lynch, McKee.

l TWO more players from Hoskin’s development squad, Wes Fletcher and Kevin Long, have extended their loan deals with League 2 sides.

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Striker Fletcher will now remain at Stockport County until January 15th, while centre back Long will also stay at neighbours Accrington Stanley until the same date.

Fletcher, 19, has scored one goal in six appearances for County, netting the winner in the derby against Bury, and he was influential in their 3-3 draw with Crewe on Saturday.

Long, 20, has started eight games for Stanley, becoming a regular in John Coleman’s back four after picking up a red card early in his stay at the Crown Ground.

Boss Brian Laws said: “It was important for Wes to get that League experience.

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“Sometimes players go away and come back a different animal and Wes is doing extremely well.

“I have had good reports. I speak to the manager on a regular basis and we are sending scouts out to watch him, along with a couple of others we have out on loan.”

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