THE Clarets youth team made it five wins from six in their Merit League competition with a comprehensive defeat of Mansfield Town at Gawthorpe on Saturday.

"We played some really good stuff, especially in the first half and it was a great win," enthused coach Terry Pashley.

"The game had started off quite even for the first 15 minutes but Damien Hindle scored a nice goal.

"The second one was scored by Paul Barrett as he capitalised on a mistake when they tried to play the ball across goal. Matty O'Neill made it 3-0 when he chased a long ball and slotted it into an empty net."

The half time lead was more than comfortable but Pashley claimed: "It could have been more. We missed a few and their keeper made some good saves and we did play very well."

With the game won the performance did dip after the break but that did not stop the three goalscorers adding to their tallies.

"Matty's was a beauty, a 25-yarder that flew in off the bar," said Pashley who also used the game to have a look at a couple of schoolboy trialists.

The youngsters have three games left to play, starting with Chester at home on Saturday and then Grimsby Town and York City next week.

But before they worry about their own success the young players will have a massive say in whether the reserve team wins the Avon Insurance Premier Division title.

Last night Pashley's players filled the bench for the crucial match against Barnsley and made up half the team with striker Hindle following up his double at the weekend with the remarkable goal that kept the title hopes alive.

Andrew Waine was once again impressive in midfield while Hindle's goal was just reward for a hard working, hard running display. Just a couple of minutes before his dramatic late strike he had set up sub Paul Barrett but he had his shot well saved.

Throughout the reserves' long campaign Ronnie Jepson has regularly turned to Pashley's squad to add to his resources and he has been delighted with their efforts.