BURNLEY U23’s fell to a 4-1 defeat against Lancashire rivals Bolton Wanderers at the Tameside Stadium, writes Joshua Bunting.

Bolton took the lead on six minutes as a Harry Brockbank long pass picked out Connor Hall before his pass across the Burnley penalty area found Dennis Politic and he lashed his strike into the net.

It was two a couple of minutes later as Brockbank saw his cross tapped into the net by Hall leaving Michael Duff’s side with a mountain to climb.

However, the Clarets pulled a goal back as Jamie Thomas linked up with Dean Marney before the experienced midfielder crossed for Tinashe Chakwana to fire the ball into the net past the despairing dive of Wanderers keeper Jake Turner.

Turner was called into action minutes later as he made a god low save to keep out a cross from Tunde Bayode when Chakwana was lurking at the back post.

Burnley were starting to apply heavy pressure and if not for a fantastic tackle from Bolton captain Liam Edwards would have been level as Bayode latched onto a superb through ball from Rahis Nabi.

Metz had a fine opportunity to level the game jsut before the half hour, but his low effort lacked power allowing Turner to get down comfortably to make the save.

Hall was impressing at the Tameside Stadium and he nearly restored the Whites' two goal lead as he latched onto a Jeff King cross, but he fluffed his strike into the arms of Adam Legzdins.

Duff’s side found themselves further behind before the break as King was left unmarked in the penalty area to side foot into the net.

Bolton created the first chance of the second half as Jack Earing hit a low shot goalwards but James Clarke came to the Clarets rescue blocking the ball on the line.

As Duff’s side searched for a route back into the game it was Marney who nearly pulled the crucial goal back as his low powerful strike was well blocked by Cole Longsdale at the last minute.

Burnley were then to be denied a penalty on 65 minutes as Chakwana went down under a challenge from Shakeal Jones, but referee John Matthews waved the protests away.

Thomas was then inches away from setting up a frantic finish as on 80 minutes he curled a free-kick over the Wanderers wall but into the side netting.

It was the Whites who then thought they had killed the game of as Hall tried his luck from long range, but he dragged his effort just wide of the target.

However, it was four a minute later as Edwards hit a sweet, dipping half-volley from thirty-five yards into the net leaving Legzdins with no chance.

Kai Parkinson could have added a late fifth for the visitors as he was played in by King but his low effort was cleared off the line by the sliding Ali Koiki as Wanderers first team manager Phil Parkinson watched from the stands.