TRIALIST Theo Fairweather-Johnson scored twice as Burnley Reserves cruised to a second win in three games in the Central League West Division.

It took a while for the game to get going, but the Clarets took control after going in front on 15 minutes when Remco van der Schaaf ended a goalmouth scramble with a well-placed volley.

The midfielder was one of just three professionals in the line-up, with Jay Rodriguez and Diego Penny alongside him, as manager Owen Coyle resisted the temptation to use the international break to field a stronger side.

Goalkeeper Penny remained largely untested, while non-league winger Fairweather-Johnson marked his trial with his first goal in the 40th minute.

The former Dulwich Hamlet and Beckenham wide man, who began the season with Fisher Athletic, looked offside when he latched onto a throughball, but escaped a flag to finish well in a one-on-one with goalkeeper James Spencer.

Fortune favoured Burnley once more two minutes later as Steve Jones jinked his way down the left and fired a speculative shot at goal.

Spencer should have had it covered, but the ball bounced awkwardly in front of him, looped over his left shoulder and into the net.

Coyle, who partnered Rodriguez up front for the first 77 minutes, was close to adding to the scoreline either side of half-time but Fairweather-Johnson managed it moments before being replaced by Michael King.

Rodriguez was unlucky not to make it 5-0, but had his firm header from Coyle’s corner cleared off the line before Rochdale's Chris Blakley scored a consolation goal in the final minute.

BURNLEY RES: Diego Penny; Dan Brown, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Alex-Ray Harvey; Theo Fairweather-Johnson (Michael King 79), Remco van der Schaaf (Chris Anderson 83), Adam Kay, Steve Jones; Jay Rodriguez, Owen Coyle (Wes Fletcher 77). Subs not used: Gabor Kiraly, Dominic Knowles.