A LATE fight back could not save the Clarets reserves from defeat in their penultimate Pontin's League Premier Division outing of the season.

Ronnie Jepson's young side and had early chances with Marc Pugh and Tom Ince going close, but Stoke took the lead on 27 minutes when Martin Patterson slid the ball past Clarets keeper Michael Hale.

Four minutes before half-time Ince forced a good save from Stoke keeper Robert Duggan and the Clarets came close to an equaliser again early in the second period when Joel Pilkington flashed a volley inches wide of the target.

However, on 74 minutes the visitors increased their lead with Patterson again the scorer.

Three minutes later Duggan denied Neal Trotman who fired in a header on target from a corner.

Trotman finally pulled a goal back for the Clarets when turned Matt O'Neill's cross past Duggan.

In the dying minutes Burnley threw everything forward but were unable to summon up an equaliser.

BURNLEY: Hale, Pitham, Scott, Townsend, Trotman, Pilkington, Pugh, Avery, Carpenter, Ince (Booth 77 mins), O'Neill. Subs not used: Taylor, Abbey, Jones

STOKE: Duggan, Wilkinson, Dickinson, Keogh, Owen, Williams, Tortioshell, Denny, Palmer, Patterson, Neal. Subs not used: Graves, Smith, Swift, Cartwright, Musgrove

BURNLEY RES...1

STOKE RES...2