Goals -
0-1 Reed (20)
1-1 Courtney (51)
2-1 Pugh (55)

When the team sheets were exchanged before the kick-off, it soon became evident that the young Reds were facing a tough task against a much more experienced Burnley outfit at Accrington Stanley's Interlink Express stadium this evening.

From Danish keeper Brian Jensen, through centre half Frank Sinclair to Wade Elliott and John Spicer, it was on paper a much stronger outfit and that was not counting loan signings Keith Lowe (Wolves) and Karl Bermingham (Manchester City)!

After a quiet opening period the Reds suddenly sprang into life with a goal on 20 minutes. It came after our first spell of pressure, when a hanging cross from Mark Harris on the right was deflected into the path of Jamie Reed and from close range the striker gleefully accepted the invitation to score.

After a run and turn, former Bournemouth man Wade Elliott unleashed a shot on 39 minutes that had Carrots scrambling to his right hand post, but the ball passed inches wide.

There was some more trickery from Clarets striker Karl Bermingham on 45 minutes when he waltzed inside the Welsh defence to unleash another shot that just crept wide of the target.

No changes to either team at the interval and the game restarted with Harris arrowing a drive straight at Brian 'The Beast' Jensen in the home goal.

An equaliser finally arrived for the home side on 51 minutes and it turned out to be a stunning volley from Duane Courtney, recently signed from Unibond side AFC Telford.

A half cleared corner dropped kindly for full back Courtney to let fly with an unstoppable effort that tore into the net.

Not afraid to try their luck from distance, Elliott had one shot saved before Marc Pugh hammered a 25-yard effort past Jones to give Burnley the lead on 55 minutes.

Burnley then almost nicked a third two minutes later, as Irishman Kyle Lafferty went round the advancing Michael Jones, but Simon Spender was able to cover back and clear the ball for a corner.

Former Chelsea defender Sinclair had only been expected to play half the game, but continued until the last 20 minutes before finally giving way to youngster Rob Henry.

Wrexham's chances in the second half were few and far between, but with the change to the Burnley back four following Sinclair's departure, a few chinks started to appear.

Done will have been disappointed not to have done better when Reed's long cross arrived with him at the back post, but his hurried attempt was easily blocked by a combination of goalkeeper and defender.

With a little over 10 minutes remaining, it was Joey Jones' turn to make a change and he withdrew Dean Bennett, making a return after a groin strain, to introduce 16-year-old Alex Darlington, who has been a regular goalscorer for the junior sides this season.

As the final minutes counted down the opportunities were coming Wrexham's way, but a weak header straight at the keeper should have been closer to an equaliser than it was.

Full back Martin Reilly came to his team's rescue when he got between Braisdell and Marc Williams to clear the ball out of play as the Wrexham players threatened to race clear.

With the visitors pushing forward, the tall figure of Lafferty get in a free header that was hooked off the line in the final minute by Mike Williams.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Duane Courtney, Martin Reilly, Chris McCann, Frank Sinclair (Rob Henry 71), Keith Lowe, Wade Elliott (Nicky Platt 75), John Spicer, Kyle Lafferty, Karl Bermingham, Marc Pugh (Ali Akbar 78).
Subs: Mark Crossley.

Wrexham: Michael Jones, Mark Harris, Matty Done, Simon Spender, Gareth Evans, Mike Williams, Andy Fleming, Dean Bennett (Aaron Braisdell 78), Marc Williams, Jamie Reed (Alex Darlington 87), Chris Evans (Sion Edwards 80).
Subs: Chris Mullock.

Referee: A.R. Ncholson
Attendance: 150ish
Away: 15