Report | Burnley U21s 3 Swansea City U21s 3

13th January
Academy
Iwan Morgan
Photo: Kevin Hayden/Burnley FC

Swansea City Under-21s concluded their Premier League Cup campaign as goals from a trialist, Tarrelle Whittaker and Iwan Morgan secured a share of the spoils against Burnley at the County Ground.

Michael Mellon netted a hat-trick for the hosts, including the first two goals of the game as the Clarets surged into an early lead, but a fine Swansea fightback meant Burnley's hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages were over.

The Swans knew they would not be able to advance prior to kick-off, but there were plenty of positives to take from a brave showing after an early setback.

Both sides had chances in the opening exchanges. Whittaker just failed to get on the end of Lincoln McFayden's cross, before Mellon glanced a header wide from Marcel Lewis' dangerous centre.

Tarrelle Whittaker
Photo: Kevin Hayden/Burnley FC

Joe Thomas was also off target with a header for the Swans before the home side took the lead on 20 minutes.

Scottish forward Mellon was on hand to tap in from close range after Remy Mitchell had parried Ne-Jai Tucker's initial strike.

And the striker soon had his second as Tucker picked him out in the area and he was able to bundle the ball into the net.

The visitors needed a response and they got it as Whittaker's shot-cum-cross took a deflection off the Swansea trialist in the area and hit the post before rolling into the back of the net.

And it was soon all-square, with Whittaker turning the ball into the back of the net to make it four goals in barely 10 minutes in a see-saw encounter.

Lincol McFayden
Photo: Kevin Hayden/Burnley FC

Following the restart, Swansea forward Morgan was fouled just outside of the penalty area but Whittaker could only send the resulting free-kick over the bar.

However, the visitors would soon lead for the first time with the impressive Morgan broke away down the right and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper.

McFayden went close to extending Swansea's advantage. After a neat one-two between Morgan and the trialist found the left-back in the box, his strong strike was palmed away by Franchi.

The Clarets piled on the pressure, knowing this was a must-win game for them, and two chances in quick succession from Mellon and Benn Ward were denied by Mitchell.

With 10 minutes remaining, Mellon levelled the scores as he completed his hat-trick by taking down a long ball over the top to finish, and there were no further goals in a frantic finish.

 Burnley Under-21s: Denis Franchi, Keelan Williams (Kade Ratchford 88'), Owen Dodgson, Benn Ward (captain), Trialist, Joe Bauress, Marcel Lewis, Jezreel Davies, Michael Mellon, Ne-Jai Tucker, Seb Thompson (Trevor Bryan 80')

Unused subs: Lewis Thomas, Jack Turner, Dane McCullough.

Swansea City Under-21s: Remy Mitchell, Harry Jones, Ben Blythe (Kai Ludvigsen 65'), Azeem Abdulai, Wasiri Williams (captain), Joe Thomas, Trialist, Leverett, Iwan Morgan (Joel Cotterill 75'), Tarrelle Whittaker (Corey Hurford 90'), Lincoln McFayden.  

Unused Subs: Ben Hughes, Kian Jenkins.