Clitheroe 0 FC United 3

Stuart Brennan

17/10/2007

AARON Burns lit up a chill night in Lancashire with two debut goals which sent FC powering into the play-off positions.

The original game between these two last month was abandoned after a floodlight failure, but this time it was the former Manchester United reserve who provided the electricity.

Burns was top scorer for the Old Trafford second string last season, and he showed the kind of quality which he hopes will land him a place with a Football League club once the transfer window opens in January.

Burns had been frustrated on Saturday when international clearance from the Welsh FA - his registration is held by Cardiff - failed to materialise in time for him to take part in the 2-1 home win over Wakefield.

But it took him just six minutes to steer in a debut goal, as strike partner Rory Patterson's shrewd pass split the Clitheroe defence, and Jerome Wright took the ball around goalkeeper James Mann before squaring for Burns to pounce.

The other FC newcomer Colin Bell had steeled himself for some good-humoured abuse from the travelling fans but plans for his debut were also put on hold when his international clearance from the Welsh FA came through too late.

An FC side depleted by key injuries still proved too strong for struggling Clitheroe, and when top scorer Rory Patterson earned himself a penalty on 54 minutes, he picked himself up and stroked in his 12th of the season. Burns rounded it off in the 67th minute, finishing with aplomb.