Burnley Res 0 Stoke City Res 3

BURNLEY reserves ended their home league programme on a low note last night as Stoke's Paul Connor triggered their downfall with two first half strikes.

A youthful Clarets side never got to grips with their more experienced visitors and, once dangerman Connor had put City 2-0 up inside the opening 12 minutes, there was no way back.

A mix up in the Burnley defence presented Connor with the simplest of tap-ins after just two minutes.

Then the livewire frontman doubled his account 10 minutes later, dispossessing John Williamson before slotting the ball past Craig Mawson from an acute angle. The slippery Connor continued to torment the Clarets for the remainder of the half and only a couple of superb saves from Mawson prevented him from extending City's advantage.

Burnley did improve after the break as Anthony Shandran's lob bounced just wide and Brad Maylett's centre struck the crossbar.

But Williamson -- who had been pushed up front as an emergency centre forward -- missed their best chance of the night when he fired wide after excellent work from substitute Matt O'Neill.

And to complete a disappointing night for the Clarets, Mark Goodfellow grabbed a third for the visitors when he fired past Mawson following a corner.

Burnley: Mawson, Leeson, Scott, Williamson, Heywood, Kevan, Maylett, Pilkington (Waine), Shandran (O'Neill), Kelly (Barrett), Devenney. Subs not used: Davis, Paxton.