FIRST HALF
Bradbury was first to test Feeney, as we sought to dominate from the off on a cold, blustery day in East Lancashire.
His strike was parried away, after a precise through ball by Yuel Helafu, and Feeney was called into action again five minutes later, saving low from our no.9 and then getting up to smother the rebound.
Bendito Mantato was forced off and replaced by Douka Nkoto after 19 minutes, following a robust, but fair, challenge from Troy Savage.
United controlled possession with a calm, patient approach but a quick switch forward almost saw Bradbury in again, although Feeney did well to stop him 30 yards from goal, despite our striker’s protestations that he was taken down.
Kian McMahon-Brown fired straight at Fred Heath on a rare foray forward by the Clarets, but normal service was resumed moments later, as Gabriel unleashed an effort that was tipped away by the stretching Feeney.
Our own Brown had a goalwards scoop cleared amid a morass of Claret shirts, following a corner, but the home side couldn’t get to half-time level. United's no.11, with time and space on the left, curled a teasing cross into the middle, and Bradbury evaded attention before poking home.