City’s reserves lost out in their Final Third Development League Cup tie to Burnley this Tuesday thanks to four second half goals from a strong-looking Clarets outfit.
First year professionals Dylan Mottley-Henry, Sam Wright and Joe Cracknell all featured in the game with Mottley-Henry getting on the scoresheet late on, converting Reece Webb-Foster’s superb cross to the far post.
The first half was an evenly contested one, both sides showed great willing to get on the ball and look to spark opportunities but neither side could really get a foothold. Josh Ginnelly and Reece Webb-Foster came the closest for their respective sides, but both goals lead a charmed life for 45 minutes in all honesty. The same could not be said about the second period.
After an hour Jamie Frost gave the Clarets the advantage; Ntumba Massanka used his imposing size and strength to get the better of Kwame Boateng before leaving his strike partner Frost with the easiest of tap ins from inside the six yard box.
Just over ten minutes later, Burnley doubled their lead to take firm control of the game. Ginnelly delivered a corner to the near post, Sam Wright attempted to head clear the danger, but the ball ricocheted off Kesi Omolokun and into the back of the net. A bizarre goal in all honesty and very much an avoidable one at that.
Xander McBurnie and Niah Payne were introduced as second half substitutes and just a few minutes after coming on, the latter wasted an inviting opportunity, scooping a shot over the bar after Mottley-Henry’s effort was pushed into his path by Burnley stopper Conor Mitchell.
With around ten minutes remaining, one of Burnley’s subs Khius Metz scores the all but confirm the victory for the visitors with a neatly taken side footed shot into the bottom corner from inside the 18 yard box.
Although Mottley-Henry pulled a goal back for the Bantams to create a glimmer of hope, that hope was ousted out when Metz scored his second of the game in the final minutes. Frost won the ball central to goal and moved into space before picking out the pacey Irishman who planted a shot under the body of Cracknell.
The reserves showed some positive signs in the first half, but Burnley progressed in the second half and showed enough strength and clinical ability to record what in the end was a comprehensive victory.