THE afternoon belonged to John Coleman, in more ways than one.

The Accrington Stanley boss and his assistant, Jimmy Bell, had been granted a testimonial on their return to the club last season, to recognise more than 12 years’ service in their first spell.

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Coleman had said in the build-up that the occasion could only be made better with a win, and his wish was granted.

Jelle Vossen scored on his first appearance for Burnley, but the summer signing’s goal came only after the Reds had stunned their Championship neighbours with three goals in the opening 10 minutes.

Lukas Jutkiewicz scored from the spot for his second in as many friendlies before Vossen pounced to make it 3-2 at the break.

But despite the wholesale changes that Burnley made in the second half, Stanley’s Matt Crooks scored his second of the afternoon to secure a rare win in this fixture for the Reds.

In context, this was Stanley’s fourth friendly, with most players averaging a game and a half, while for Burnley it was only their second run-out, with most players having only previously played 45 minutes.

The emphasis for Sean Dyche in these early friendlies is fitness but the Clarets boss will not have been pleased with the start they made.

There were less than two minutes on the clock when Seamus Conneely fired Stanley in front with a low shot across Matt Gilks that nestled in the bottom right corner.

A makeshift back four, with right back Luke O’Neill partnering development squad defender Tom Anderson at centre half, had been stunned early.

Worse was to follow for them in the sixth minute when Piero Mingoia, who worked with Dyche at Watford, worked his way down the right channel and fed Crooks to beat Matt Gilks with a delightful dink over the Scotland international.

Trailing 3-0 by the 10th minute was a nightmare for Burnley but the stuff of dreams for Coleman.

Terry Gornell brought a good save from Gilks, but Sean McConville was first to react by turning in the parry.

But once the Clarets recovered from the early shock and settled into the game they were the more dominant team.

Jutkiewicz looked to create chances but couldn’t get the breaks until winning a penalty just after the half-hour.

The striker, who partnered Vossen in the first half, went down under centre half Tom Davies’ challenge and converted the subsequent spot kick off the underside of the bar.

Soon after having a goal ruled out for a foul by Jutkiewicz in the build-up, the Belgian international was off the mark.

New right back Matt Lowton, who impressed, had his cross collected at the far post by Steven Hewitt and the ball made its way to Vossen from Matt Taylor’s blocked effort. The striker was clinical.

Stanley stuck with their starting XI for the second half, while Burnley made wholesale changes.

Marvin Sordell was denied by Jason Mooney, while young right back Cameron Dummigan’s cross hit the roof of the net.

Stanley’s second half was punctuated by changes, and Billy Kee should have scored soon after his introduction but turned fellow substitute Adam Morgan’s cross wide at the near post, before bringing a comfortable save from Gilks.

The Clarets were largely in control, but without causing too many problems for Mooney or substitute stopper Ross Etheridge.

Crooks capitalised, firing home from close range from ex-Claret Shay McCartan’s cross.

Burnley (first half): Matt Gilks, Matt Lowton, Luke O’Neill, Tom Anderson, Stephen Ward; Steven Hewitt, Fredrik Ulvestad, David Jones, Matt Taylor; Jelle Vossen; Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Burnley (second half): Matt Gilks; Cameron Dummigan, Michael Duff, Ben Mee, Daniel Lafferty; George Boyd, Scott Arfield, Fredrik Ulvestad (Nathan Lowe 65), Michael Kightly; Marvin Sordell, Sam Vokes.

Stanley: Jason Mooney (Ross Etheridge 71); Dean Winnard (Adam Buxton 71), Tom Davies, Joe Wright (Adam Cummings 60), Matt Pearson (Shaquille Antoine-Clarke 60); Piero Mingoia (Shay McCartan 71), Matt Crooks, Seamus Conneely, Sean McConville (Jason St Juste 60), Josh Windass (Adam Morgan 62), Terry Gornell (Billy Kee 62).