RONNIE Jepson was full of praise for his young guns as Burnley Reserves lost 4-0 to Sheffield Wednesday at Turf Moor last night.

An experienced Owls second string romped to victory to condemn the Clarets to a fourth successive Pontins League defeat.

But manager Jepson insisted results are of little significance at this stage as he continues to toughen up his teenagers for the long road ahead.

He said: "My lads were a credit to themselves again because they kept trying to play football in the right manner.

"Even their manager, Colin West, came up to me after the game and commented how impressed he was.

"They are a very young side, but now we have a month without a reserve team game, so they can go back to Terry Pashley with a pat on the back and continue their progress."

At one stage last night, Burnley fielded SIX first team scholars against the Yorkshire outfit, who gave run-outs to first team regulars Steve Haslam, Leigh Bromby and Craig Armstrong.

A second minute strike from Jon Shaw set the tone, and Richard Evans and a brace from Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu completed the scoring.

Burnley: Hale, Pitham, O'Neill, Trotman, Scott, Avery, Pugh (Carpenter, 72), Chaplow (Preston, 45) Hindle, Taylor, Ince.

Subs not used: Crossley, Heywood, Hanley.

BURNLEY RES ...4 SHEFF WEDNESDAY RES ...0