By Longsider
April 21 2004

Press reports of our match with Franchise last night. We bring you reports from the Guardian, Sporting Life and the Daily Telegraph.

Clarets reach comfort zone

The Guardian

Burnley supporters may come to remember this cold, damp, spring night in east Lancashire only for the win that significantly eased their team's relegation fears, but neutrals will probably recall the performance of Malvin Kamara.
A pacy, tricky, touchline-hugging winger, the 20-year-old with a touch of the young John Barnes impressed down the right in the first half and the left in the second. True, his final ball was sometimes wayward but Kamara looks too good for the Second Division and the same goes for Burnley's Glen Little and Robbie Blake.

Though that duo helped secure victory, principal credit should go to Graham Branch, really a midfielder or defender who, pressed into service as an ersatz centre-forward, scored the opener. "It's a big win for us, a massive win," said Stan Ternent. "And particularly considering we've got another massive game against Derby on Saturday."

Wimbledon are already down but, pressing assiduously, they began in determined mood. Indeed David Martin - the teenage son of the former West Ham luminary Alvin, making his debut in the visiting goal - initially had little to do.

Martin was underemployed until the 26th minute when his first serious call to arms concluded with the ball nestling in the back of the net. That goal began with a left-wing cross from Paul Weller - his parents were fans of the Jam - met by Little's head at the far post. Although Martin parried, Branch headed home, setting Burnley on course for the first of the two victories Ternent deems essential for survival.

Wimbledon were unlucky not to equalise when, with Brian Jensen wrong-footed, Gary Smith's swerving shot rebounded off the post. But Burnley scored again at the end of the first period when Harry Ntimban-Zeh headed an own-goal after colliding with Martin as they both went for the ball.

"That killed us," said Stuart Murdoch, who must have been encouraged by his side's refusal to fold. Ditto Kamara's performance. "I don't want to say too much, because there were a few managers in the stands, but Malvin's young and quick and strong," he said. "Who knows how far he might go?"

Burnley 2 Wimbledon 0

Sporting Life

Graham Branch's close-range header and Harry Ntimban-Zeh's own goal earned struggling Burnley a crucial 2-0 victory at home to relegated Wimbledon.

Prior to the game, only a superior goal difference to Gillingham kept Burnley out of the Nationwide First Division relegation zone and the importance of this result cannot be underestimated.

The magnitude of their task was not lost on the Burnley players and, despite making a slow start, a sustained spell of pressure was rewarded four minutes before the half-hour mark when Branch latched on to Paul Weller's precise delivery to register only his second goal of the season.

And 48 seconds into first-half injury time, Ntimban-Zeh's farcical own goal put clear water between the two sides.

Wimbledon improved in the second half, and their small band of supporters can have deserved cause for optimism about bouncing back next season.

However, Burnley were always in control and the victory moves them above Walsall and Derby in the First Division table - three points clear of danger, but still not out of the woods.

Buoyed by the 3-2 victory at Bradford on Saturday, the visitors began brightly.

Jason Puncheon fashioned the first chance of the opening exchanges with a fierce drive from 20 yards which went just over the crossbar.

Puncheon's effort sparked Burnley into life and the Clarets slowly gained midfield superiority - particularly on the flanks.

As has been the story of their season, inexperience has cost Stuart Murdoch's side dear countless times and their naivety was again exploited after 26 minutes when Branch opened the scoring.

Weller's testing delivery soared tantalisingly into the Dons' six-yard box and instead of rushing out to claim the ball, goalkeeper David Martin - making his Wimbledon debut because of an injury to Scott Bevan - remained rooted to his goalline.

Unfortunately for Martin, it proved the wrong decision as Branch ghosted in at the back post to head the ball home from close range.

Sensing a Wimbledon capitulation, Burnley poured forward hoping to extend their advantage.

But Stan Ternent's men were nearly made to pay for such unnecessary giddiness when, from out of nowhere, Gary Smith unleashed a stunning drive which was helped on to the post by goalkeeper Brian Jensen and away to safety.

However, Burnley did double their lead in first-half stoppage time when another dangerous Weller ball caused havoc in the Wimbledon penalty area and Ntimban-Zeh could only spoon the ball over the head of the helpless Martin in his efforts to clear the danger.

Wimbledon supporters could have been forgiven for fearing the worst, but the Dons refused to throw in the towel and plugged away gamely in the second half.

Puncheon, Peter Hawkins and Wayne Gray all tried their luck from long range while Malvin Kamara forced David May into a desperate saving challenge just inside Burnley's penalty area.

But for all their new-found creativity, Wimbledon remained second best all evening and despite the odd half-chance in the closing stages, Burnley played out the remainder of the contest in the comfort zone.

Teams

Burnley: Jensen, Roche, Branch, May, Camara, Little, Chaplow (Pilkington 77), Weller (Alan Moore 60), Johnrose, Blake (Chadwick 82), McGregor.

Subs Not Used: Adebola, Abbey.

Goals: Branch 26, Ntimban-Zeh 45 og.

Wimbledon: Martin, Ntimban-Zeh, Kamara, Herzig, Lewington, Harding, Smith, Hawkins, Puncheon, Gray, Small.

Subs Not Used: Holdsworth, Mackie, Oyedele, McKoy, Worgan.

Att: 13,555

Ref: G Cain (Merseyside).


BURNLEY SEIZE SOME BREATHING SPACE

Daily Telegraph

Burnley eased pressing relegation worries last night at Turf Moor with victory over Wimbledon, who are already booked to play Second Division football next season.

The win enabled Burnley to move up two places to 19th, three points clear of the drop zone and immediately ahead of Derby County, their visitors at the weekend for what will be another tense encounter.

Home nerves were stretched in a tense opening period of disjointed play and it was not until a lead had been established on 24 minutes that Burnley began to seriously pressure opponents who were clearly there for the taking.

Burnley's lack of resources meant that their captain, Graham Branch, was invited to undertake an unaccustomed striking role although the emergency move paid off when Branch was on hand to head in from close range.

Paul Weller's teasing cross from the left was met at the far post by Glen Little. David Martin, teenage son of former West Ham legend Alvin and who was making his league debut, could only flap at the ball which skidded back over his head, leaving Branch to strike.

It was the signal for further pressure from Burnley although Wimbledon almost caught them on the break, Gary Smith unleashing a crisp 25-yarder that struck the inside of a post with Brian Jensen beaten.

However, Burnley doubled their lead in the 45th minute as Wimbledon defender Harry Ntimban-Zeh headed past his own goalkeeper when challenged by Robbie Blake.

Burnley could have put the issue beyond doubt in the 55th minute when Blake went round Martin who had dashed to the edge of the penalty area. But Dean Lewington provided a splendid tackle to prevent further damage.