Burnley Reserves 2 Preston North End Reserves 1

GOALKEEPER Nikolaos Michopoulos gave a favourable impression on his first appearance for the Clarets as Burnley's reserves came from behind for the second week running to maintain their winning start in the Avon Insurance League Premier Division.

The Greek international wasn't over employed as he looks to convince manager Stan Ternent that he's worth a longer term contract at Turf Moor.

But he looked assured when called upon, dealing well with anything in the air and making one excellent second-half save when the scores were level.

The biggest reception, however, was reserved for a revitalised Graham Branch who had another impressive game before being replaced in the second half by Anthony Shandran.

And it was Shandran who grabbed the winner with a well-worked goal 10 minutes from time.

Burnley had fallen behind after just nine minutes when Craig Wilkinson capitalised on a defensive error to give Michopoulos no chance. Brad Maylett hit back with an angled drive at Preston keeper Tony McMillan and the Clarets were level 10 minutes before half-time when Branch was pulled down by Ryan Kidd and Alan Lee converted his second penalty of the season.

Branch went close mid-way through the second half with a curling effort which McMillan saved superbly before Michopoulos repeated the trick at the other end to deny Mark Wright.

However, Burnley finally got a deserved winner at the end of a move sparked by Paul Smith's sweeping cross-field pass.

Maylett skipped past a defender and fed Shandran and the young striker calmy picked his slot to guide the ball home.

TEAM: Michopoulos, Heywood, Smith, Mellon, Armstrong (Brass), Boardman, Maylett, Jepson, Lee (Shandran), Mullin, Branch (Devenney).