SUBSTITUTE James Craggs struck late on to secure the win over Blackpool Reserves at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium last night.

He polished off Alex Ray Harvey’s excellent throughball to clinch the three points after Chris Anderson's early second half goal had been cancelled out.

Kevin McDonald provided an added boost by completing the first half, after recovering from the ankle injury he sustained at Swansea a month ago, while Remco van der Schaaf continued his bid for a first team return with almost 70 minutes’ action.

Fielding a mixture of youth and experience, Burnley edged a tepid opening half against a young Blackpool outfit. But it was goalkeeper Diego Penny who was put to the test first.

Danny Mitchley created space for himself by cutting the ball onto his right foot inside the area, but Penny matched his right-foot drive with a fingertip save.

First-year apprentice Michael King worked hard on the left wing all night, and delivered FROM BACK PAGE an excellent ball for Burnley’s first chance soon afterwards, only for Mark Halstead to parry Jay Rodriguez's first-time shot.

King was unlucky not to break the deadlock himself 10 minutes before the break when he burst on to Penny's long kick and dragged a shot from the edge of the box narrowly wide.

Anderson, who had replaced McDonald at the break, broke the deadlock three minutes after his introduction, heading in Chris Lynch's excellent cross.

Blackpool levelled five minutes later when Penny blocked out a sliced clearance from Dominic Merella's right-wing cross and Matt Kay turned in the rebound.

But Craggs finished well at the end of a strong run from midfield seven minutes from time.

Burnley Res: Diego Penny; Dan Brown, Chris Lynch, Nik Kudiersky, Alex Ray Harvey; Remco van der Schaaf (Wes Fletcher 69); Steve Jones (James Craggs 71), Adam Kay, Kevin McDonald (Chris Anderson 46), Michael King; Jay Rodriguez.

Subs not used: Gabor Kiraly, Dil Chagger