IT appears that nothing is sacred in football any more.

The Americans can now come over here and beat us at our own game and are even ready for world domination - in women's football at least.

Having already won the Women's World Cup, beating China in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, the game Stateside has never been so big and is America's fastest growing sport.

And it is filtering down to the youth sides so much so that Parkland can jump off a long-haul flight from Pennsylvania and convincingly beat a very handy Burnley side the day they arrive.

While the American seniors have their stars to look up to, there appears to be a silver lining at at youth level also - namely Rachel Silver.

For while Burnley proved to be stronger in certain departments, with captain Sam Butterworth a rock in the centre of defence and Joanna Rohman proving to be a very creative striker, Silver had an all-round game that made her stand out among the rest.

The striker scored twice and could have had a hatful more - including one when she forget that you could not score direct from an indirect free kick. However, as the saying goes, every cloud as a silver lining and the same can be said for the claret and blues.

For in 13-year-old Charlotte Hartley they have unearthed a player who can be just as good as Silver and her travelling companions.

Waist high to some of her markers, Hartley didn't shirk a challenge, showed great skill and a good turn of pace and a glimpse of what a good player she can be.

On a cramped pitch, Burnley held their own for the first 15 minutes with Butterworth repelling everything the Americans could throw at them with some tough tackling that left Parkland coach Chris Bleam cringing on the touchline - welcome to England!

However after a corner was partially cleared by Laura Hitchen, Sara MacKeverican's goalbound shot was controlled by her sister Beth who swivelled to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.

Burnley responded when Vicky Boult and Rohman combined with Rohman testing keeper Katie Ely with a smart shot.

However, Parkland doubled their lead when Kelly Hill shot through a crowded area to score. Silver scored her first when she latched onto a mistake by Butterworth to cooly slot the ball past Gemma Bennett and Kelly Marsteller grabbed number four with a stunning 25-yard dipping volley.

But Burnley never gave in and grabbed a deserved goal when substitute Hayley Newham crossed and Lyndsey Shearer converted from close range. Shearer had a chance to grab a second but headed Rohman's wonderful cross wide with the goal gaping. After the break the sides were reduced to nine-a-side and both teams enjoyed the freedom of space.

Burnley will be happy with their second half performance but Parkland increased their lead when Hill took the ball on the run and raced into the area to score.

Laura Hitchen went close with a fine shot after powering out of defence before Butterworth nearly rounded off a fine individual performance when she hit the cross with a thunderbolt of a shot. However Burnley did score again and Vicky Boult's industry up front paid off when she scored from the edge of the area.

But Silver had the last say when she neatly tucked the ball under Burnley reserve keeper Caroline Eastwood.

BURNLEY BOROUGH: Gemma Bennett, Katie Saichi, Laura Hitchen, Sam Butterworth, Laura Dobson, Joanne Holt, Gemma Dewhurst, Hayley Neal, Lyndsey Shearer, Joanna Rohman and Vicky Boult. Subs: Charlotte Hartley, Caroline Eastwood, Lauren Hill, Lucy Kidd, Nicki Eyre, Lisa Crew, Hayley Newham, Ayla Duggan, Kathryn Forshaw and Stacy Clarke.

PARKLAND (USA): Abby Belinsky, Andrea Luhman, Kelly Marsteller, Val Kamon, Rachel Silver, Sara MacKeverican, Dina Coniglio, Beth MacKeverican, Katie Ely, Tara Bertsch, Nikki McLellan, Briana Tharp, Lauren Macri, Kelly Hill, Sabrina Chowdhury and Danielle Gould.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.