Burnley U23s 3 Leeds Utd U23s 6

Patrick Bamford returned to Barnfield and left with the match ball as his hat-trick helped Leeds United end the Clarets’ eight-match unbeaten run and go to the top of the Professional Development League’s northern section.

Bamford – who started the 2016/17 season on loan with the Clarets – marked his return from injury with the visitors’ opening goal and the last two as a strong Leeds side finally over-powered the Clarets.

Half-a-dozen of the Leeds side boasted first-team experience, while on-loan Chelsea forward Izzy Brown also stepped up his return from injury with a goal-scoring performance.

A more youthful Clarets’ side competed well for more than an hour and having led 2-1 at the break…