Hat-trick hero Payton seals last-gasp victory

ANDY Payton may be no Jimmy McIlroy.

But as modern-day favourites go, he ranks pretty highly at Turf Moor.

And his second hat-trick of the season, including a last-minute winner, crowned a remarkable afternoon where past and potential glories went hand-in-hand.

The irreplaceable McIlroy predicted before the game that Burnley's supporters would be watching First Division football at Turf Moor next season.

And Payton, among the players to applaud the maestro as he walked onto the pitch to officially open the Jimmy McIlroy Stand prior to kick-off, did his best to ensure those words wouldn't have a hollow ring about them going into the next millennium.

Winning or losing one more game at the half-way point of the season is never going to decide anything.

But on the back of a Boxing Day defeat at Bury, the Clarets' promotion credentials would have taken a nasty dent had they succumbed for the second time in three days.

That looked likely to be the scenario with just over 11 minutes left as Burnley trailed 2-1 and struggled to recapture the flowing football of the first half that must have warmed the hearts of the 1960 Championship-winning squad as they watched from the stands.

But where there's Payton there's hope. And as Ray Pointer and Jimmy Robson would have done before him, the striker pounced on two late chances to get Burnley's challenge back on an even keel.

Comparisons are largely meaningless given the changing nature of the game and the fact that Burnley are now playing two divisions below the mighty Clarets of the 1950s and 60s.

But Payton's strike-rate of better than a goal every two games stands up to the closest scrutiny.

He admitted afterwards that he still needs to find greater consistency to end the barren sequences that have cropped up this season.

But he has proved time and again that if the opportunities are created he will tuck them away.

And when Paul Weller delivered the perfect cross to finally unlock Oxford's unyielding defence, Payton was there at the near post to follow up his earlier penalty and make it 2-2.

That restored the faith of Burnley's biggest crowd of the season and, in a storming finish, the leading scorer, back in the side after illness had kept him sidelined on Boxing Day, was on hand again to bundle home the winner and notch up his 13th-goal of the season.

It lifted Burnley back up to fourth place in the table, exorcised the ghosts of Gigg Lane and meant that the Clarets will go into the next century with renewed vigour in their quest to haul back Lancashire rivals Preston and Wigan.

Both those sides look virtually invincible at the moment. But Burnley know they still have to come to Turf Moor within the space of a fortnight in February and March and, at home, the Clarets believe they are a match for anyone.

It was that belief that kept Burnley going to the death when all was looking lost.

Phil Whelan had headed Oxford back in front early in the second half and with a record of just one defeat in 13 games under new coach Mickey Lewis they were determined to extend their fine run.

Quick to get men behind the ball, while also dangerous on the break, they presented a yellow wall that Burnley, missing Paul Cook following his half-time withdrawal, lacked the craft to break down.

Glen Little was starved of the ball at critical times after he had terrorised the Oxford defence on both flanks before half-time.

Feeding on scraps of possession and belatedly switched to the right wing, he was still offered Burnley's most likely route to goal.

But after Oxford had wasted chances from Derek Lilley and Joey Beauchamp to kill the game off as the Clarets gambled on throwing extra men forward, it was substitute Weller who found the way through.

Collecting the ball from Little, he got to the by-line and squared a peach of a cross into the path of Payton who rammed his shot home to level the scores.

Burnley immediately re-assembled into a 4-4-2 line-up so as not to waste their reprieve. However, they didn't settle for just a point and were rewarded for their positive approach. Ronnie Jepson forced Andre Arendse into a save from Little's corner but given a second bite at the cherry, the Clarets made it count.

Mitchell Thomas made his presence felt on his return from illness by winning a clean header from Little's delivery.

And as the ball bounced into the goalmouth Payton was on hand to end the millennium at Turf Moor on the highest possible note.

Cast in the role of party-poopers Oxford had done their best to live up to their billing after taking a second-minute lead through Steve Anthrobus, who capitalised on some uncertain defending to drill a shot past Paul Crichton.

Burnley's response was emphatic, however, as they attacked from all angles with the midfield quartet ably supported from the back by Graham Branch and Dean West.

The impressive John Mullin was denied an equaliser by Arendse's fine block and Micky Mellon just failed to round off a lovely move by directing his diving header just off target.

Arendse also saved bravely at the feet of the darting Little but was given no chance from the spot by Payton after Mullin had been upended by Whelan.

The big defender looked to have made amends by getting ahead of Crichton to restore Oxford's lead eight minutes into the second half.

But Payton ensured that nothing would spoil a special day for Burnley.

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