Wrexham 2-5 Burnley
By TheLongside.co.uk
July 19 2007
TheLongside.co.uk were in Wales and we bring you our match report for the 5-2 win against Wrexham. The Clarets went into the second half 2-0 up but following one goal and a penalty, Wrexham battled back to make it 2-2 before a further goal and two more penalties sealed a good 5-2 win for Burnley.
| WREXHAM 2-5 BURNLEY |
Burnley took the squad to the Racecourse tonight for a match against Brian Careys Wrexham, the squad boasted six internationals but the starting line up only contained the Longside's own Besart Berisha from the new signings. Burnley came out of the blocks smartly, setting a fierce tempo that seemed to take the home side by surprise and denied them the chance to settle into a rhythm. Wrexham were continually stretched in the early stages as there midfield duo of Connal Murtagh and Levi Makin struggled to cope with the pace and power of James O'Connor and John Spicer, a cross from the latter being deflected to force a smart save from the young Wrexham keeper. The resulting corner found Wrexham sleeping and the keeper for Wrexham came to the rescue again producing a point blank save from Jon Harley.
The Wrexham keeper was then forced to make two further smart saves from the feet of Gray and Berisha but he could do nothing to prevent Burnley doubling there lead just before half time. Andy Gray rose well to meet Blake's cross to guide the header into the corner of the net.
The small home crowd finally had something to cheer though on 53 with a very well taken goal from Michael Proctor, he controlled the ball well on his chest, turned his marker and fired home past Kiraly. Wrexham's second goal following less than ten minutes later from the penalty spot, Alan Mahon brought down Marc Williams and Proctor converted the kick. This seemed to open the floodgates and Burnley restored there advantage when Joey Gudjonsson scored a well finished goal from 20 yards. The games second penalty then resulted in Ade getting on the score sheet by squeezing the penalty past the unfortunate Wrexham keeper. The scoring was finally completed on 89 when Jay Rodriguez showed remarkable composure for one so young, striking a well taken penalty to make the final score 5-2, this score was perhaps a little harsh on a hard working Wrexham side, but can only serve to do wonders for the confidence of Steve Cotterill's men. The next challenge against Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough on Saturday will no doubt prove to be the most difficult of the games so far but it will be interesting to see how the boys cope. Burnley (first half): Jensen, Foster, Duff, Caldwell, Harley, Berisha, J O'Connor, Spicer, Jones, Gray, Lafferty (Blake 28). Player Ratings Jensen 6 - didnt really have to do anything |
Just as it looked like Wrexham were finding there feet in the game with Kaid Mohammed bringing a smart challenge from Steven Caldwell, Burnley scored. A Jon Harley free-kick found an unmarked Besart Berisha whose miss-hit effort was turned in by Andy Gray. 
Half Time saw four Burnley changes, Kiraly on for Jensen, Gudjonsson and Mahon replacing O'Connor and Spicer and Akinbiyi Replacing Gray. The changes didn't upset the rhythm too much with the impressive Steve Jones running 40yards to force a smart save from his namesake in the Wrexham goal.