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Everton included two players with Premier League experience in Jack Rodwell and Jose Baxter, but the Clarets were never overawed. In fact Everton were the nervous starters and it did look as though they had targeted midfielder Alex-Ray Harvey for some particularly harsh treatment. Three times in the first few minutes he was on the wrong end of some less than cultured challenges, and Everton could think themselves lucky that they only got a couple of yellow cards for them.
We had a lot of the play in the first half but all too often the final ball into the box just failed to find its target. Even so we had some chances and twice deflections came to Everton's rescue.
At the back we were having little difficulty keeping them at bay and when the half time whistle went with the score 0-0 we had been full value. With a bit of luck we might just have been in front, but both sides had given us a really entertaining first forty-five minutes.
Unfortunately we were never really able to get into our stride for a long period after the break and that was after Everton went in front just three minutes in. Goalkeeper Stef Ritchie couldn't hold a shot and they were in on the rebound to head home.
It seemed to knock us back and when the second went in on the hour it was all but over. This came from a free kick to the far post that was met by Rodwell who headed sweetly into the corner.
Just over ten minutes later they got a third and the scoreline was beginning to look more than cruel on the young Clarets. But almost immediately we pulled one back when James Craggs turned it in following a cross from substitute Liam Newman.
For the remaining twenty minutes we gave it a real go but just couldn't add to that goal. Maybe a second would have put Everton under some real pressure.
But it wasn't to be and the final score of 3-1 was perhaps a bit harsh on us but I think over the ninety minutes it was Everton who deserved to go through.
The season's not over for our lads though. There's the Youth Alliance League to be won and the Lancashire Youth Cup to play in. There's no way we are going to let a defeat against a very strong Everton side spoil the season.
The teams were;
Burnley: Stef Ritchie, Dil Chaggar (Oliver Devenney 88), Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Dan Brown, Dominic Knowles (Liam Newman 68), Chris Anderson, Alex-Ray Harvey, Michael King, James Craggs, Wes Fletcher. Subs not used: Ben Woodhead, Ed Williams, James Taylor.
Everton: Adam Davies, Shane Duffy, Moses Barnett, Jack Rodwell, James McCarten, Hope Akpan, Tom McCready, James Wallace, Lewis Codling (Luke Powell 86), Jose Baxter, Craig. Subs not used: Jake Bidwell, Connor Roberts, Gerard Kinsella, Connor McAleny.
Attendance: 478.