David Edgar scored a hat-trick as a strong Burnley side beat Rochdale 6-0 in a friendly at Gawthorpe this afternoon.
Wes Fletcher also struck twice with Keith Treacy completing the scoring as boss Sean Dyche gave an extended run-out to all his fit senior players who didn’t start against Charlton last Saturday.
Dyche took the opportunity to further gauge the strength of his squad and was rewarded with fully committed performance against a Dale side made up of young players and a couple of senior professionals, including ex-Accrington Stanley favourite Ian Craney.
Edgar opened the scoring with an early header from a Cameron Stewart corner before Fletcher made it 2-0 after 20 minutes with an impressive left-foot finish.
Treacy then dragged a shot just wide as he continues to work his way back towards first-team contention and the winger then provided a cross which Sam Vokes fired against the crossbar.
However, the Clarets still led 3-0 at the break thanks to Edgar’s second as he steered home another Stewart corner with the aid of a deflection.
Five minutes into the second half Fletcher (above) doubled his tally with another assured finish from a Treacy pass and with an hour gone it became 5-0.
Vokes was fouled in the box as he rounded the keeper and Edgar took the opportunity to complete his treble from the penalty spot.
Treacy then cut in to wrap up the scoring with a deflected effort and after Danny Ings had rattled the bar with a long-range drive, a fine late save from Brian Jensen ensured a clean sheet and a job well done.
Burnley: Jensen, O’Neill, Mills, Edgar, Long, Bartley, Ings, Stewart, Vokes, Fletcher (Porter 55), Treacy.