U18s report: Burnley 1 United 2

The Wales youth international was right among the thick of the action at the Clarets' Training Centre, and forced several good saves out of Burnley goalkeeper Callum Feeney, especially in a first half that United dominated.

But Feeney couldn't prevent Bradbury from opening the scoring just before the interval, when connecting with Nathaniel Junior Brown's exquisite cross.

There looked to be a sting in the tail when, after more excellent Feeney stops, Luca Scanlon - former Red and brother of United Academy winger James - nodded the hosts level after 79 minutes.

However, Bradbury was in the right place at the right time in the dying seconds, as his composed finish gave Darren Fletcher's side the three points required to leapfrog Nottingham Forest into second place, on 29 points, in the U18s Premier League North table.

FIRST HALF

Bradbury was first to test Feeney, as we sought to dominate from the off on a cold, blustery day in East Lancashire.

His strike was parried away, after a precise through ball by Yuel Helafu, and Feeney was called into action again five minutes later, saving low from our no.9 and then getting up to smother the rebound.

Bendito Mantato was forced off and replaced by Douka Nkoto after 19 minutes, following a robust, but fair, challenge from Troy Savage.

United controlled possession with a calm, patient approach but a quick switch forward almost saw Bradbury in again, although Feeney did well to stop him 30 yards from goal, despite our striker’s protestations that he was taken down.

Kian McMahon-Brown fired straight at Fred Heath on a rare foray forward by the Clarets, but normal service was resumed moments later, as Gabriel unleashed an effort that was tipped away by the stretching Feeney.

Our own Brown had a goalwards scoop cleared amid a morass of Claret shirts, following a corner, but the home side couldn’t get to half-time level. United's no.11, with time and space on the left, curled a teasing cross into the middle, and Bradbury evaded attention before poking home.

SECOND HALF

Our assist provider almost turned scorer within moments of the restart, Brown forcing Feeney’s best stop yet after being teed up by Jariyah Shah.

The hosts looked more positive in their approach and came close to an equaliser when Scanlon jinked his way inside and squared for Fabio So, whose seemingly goalbound shot was diverted wide by a white-shirted defender.

Bradbury and Feeney were locked in a personal battle, and the Clarets keeper again came out on top when using his feet to stop our scorer making it two.

As the minutes ticked by and the afternoon sky brightened, United reasserted our superiority and Brown was unlucky to see his 25-yard drive rattle the crossbar, with Feeney again getting a finger to it.

But as long as the deficit was only one, the Clarets were always in with a chance of responding and they did just that when Scanlon got between Helafu and Dan Armer to nod home Brandon Pouani’s cross at the far post.

Burnley almost completed a remarkable turnaround with three minutes remaining, but Heath was able to get down low and save, when Brierley let fly from the edge of the area.

It looked as though we’d have to settle for a share of the points, but Bradbury repeated his first-half trick and scored another stoppage-time goal, sidefooting into the net after Gabriel latched onto a Helafu pass and cut the ball back from the left.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Heath; McCormack, Mills, Armer (c), Helafu; Shah (Camacho 83), McEvoy (Bailey 74); Mantato (D.Nkoto 19), Gabriel, Brown (Rooney 83); Bradbury.

Sub not used: Byrne-Hughes.

Booked: McEvoy, Armer.

Goals: Bradbury 45+1, 90+3.

Burnley: Feeney; Blackie, Turahirwa (Murtesa 64), Stanley, Wilcock; Savage, So; Scanlon, Brierley, Pouani (Lewis 89); McMahon-Brown.

Subs not used: Grimshaw, Fletchman, Fong.

Booked: Stanley, Savage.

Goal: Scanlon 79.