Burnley Lose Edge in Title Race

MCFC Reserves 3 - 2 BFC Reserves

City twice came from behind and then went on to score a crucial winner in the race for the Totesport West Division league title over rivals Burnley today at the regional athletics arena. City answered Dominic Knowles and Wesleigh Fletcher's goals with strikes from John Guidetti, James Poole and Jack Redshaw.

City's victory over Burnley leaves them with a six point advantage over Burnley with Burnley having two games in hand and an inferior goal difference of six.

Both sides fielded young teams; Burnley more so as their first team are playing Crystal Palace at Turf Moor this evening. The game was fitting for the occasion as both sides showed their desire to win the game by playing attacking football.

Burnley took the lead when a corner on the right came in and goalkeeper Tobias Johansen concentrated too much on the near post as Knowles came in unmarked and put the ball into the back of the goal.

City were level within six minutes when Adrian Cieslewicz made a great run down the right before cutting into the box and laying the ball back for Guidetti who steadied himself before firing the ball past Benjamin Woodhead in the Burnley goal.

Burnley nearly re-took the lead with a couple of the half remaining when Fletcher made a good run and evaded the challenge of Igor Paldan; but he could not keep his shot on target as it went just wide.

Burnley came out of the traps in the second half as they had a decent effort straight from the kick off with the shot going just over. The Burnley fans did not have to wait long however with the clarets taking the lead once more in the forty eighth minute when they powered through and the ball fell for Fletcher; but this time he made no mistake as he slotted the ball past Johansen.

Guidetti then made an real opening for City with twenty minutes of the second half gone when he shrugged off the attentions of the defender and ran in to the box on the right but given he had already scored his confidence took him to take the shot on as it just drifted wide of the post with Redshaw running into space.

City did not wait long for the equalizer as a Tom Smith free kick from forty yards out was only half cleared and from over twenty yards out with his back to goal James Poole swivelled well and hit a great volley back with interest over the head of Woodhead.

City grabbed that all important winner four minutes later when a very strong run by Jeremy Helan on the left allowed him to create space and lay the ball back for Guidetti who tried to get the ball over but was impeded by the defence but he kept the ball and twisted and turned before skillfully sending a looping cross over the defence to the far post where Redshaw had pulled off his marker and jumped up to head past Woodhead.

Both sides continued to look for more goals but City were able to keep the possession better and saw out the clock to put themselves back into a title contention battle.


City: T Johansen(GK), Smith, Helan, Carter(Capt.), Tse, Paldan, Cieslewicz, Mitchell, Redshaw, Guidetti, Poole.

Subs: E Johansen, Kapsalopodas, Frater, Paris, Grandison.


Burnley: Woodhead(GK), Chagger, McEnearney, Anderson(Harvey 76), Brown, Lynch(Capt.), King(Devenney 76), Kay, Fletcher, Knowles(Newman 72), Craggs.

Subs: McDonald(GK), Williams.


Att: 142.