Luton Town 2 Burnley 3 - Tony Dewhurst's big match verdict

REMEMBER, remember, the fourth of November, gunpowder, treason...and Burnley's first Division Two away win for eight months!

After 32 long, barren weeks away from Fortress Turf Moor, Burnley turned on the style to continue their steady ascent away from the foot of Division Two.

You have to go back to a spring day at the Bescot Stadium last March - and a thumping 3-1 win at Walsall - for the last time Burnley registered a success on foreign soil.

A new manager and the nucleus of a fresh squad with renewed spirit and belief, and Burnley are back in business as the unbeaten run now extends to seven League matches.

But it was the manner of the victory that left the 400 Burnley fans cheering their team off at the final whistle on a rain-soaked night at Kenilworth Road.

They saw the Clarets climb their way back into the ring from a half time deficit to claim the points with a blood and thunder second half display.

Not only did Burnley match the opposition physically, tackle for tackle and kick for kick, but Burnley were the more inventive and purposeful side.

So many times we have witnessed Burnley sides go away from home and roll over and die, but this was brave and boisterous stuff.

Burnley were strong and sturdy in defence-apart from a two-minute aberration-classy in midfield and had bags of fresh ideas up front. For long periods of the game the Clarets simply had too much guile for a Luton side whose defending definitely contained a benevolent streak which bordered on the charitable.

You could certainly see why they have conceded a hatful of goals at home this season - including five against Wrexham and another four against deadly rivals Watford.

And no wonder Clarets player-manager Chris Waddle could afford a broad smile as he led the post-match celebrations.

Understandably, Waddle was desperate to build on last weekend's win over Walsall and the progress of the past five weeks, and he couldn't have asked for a better start as Burnley forged ahead with their first attack of the game.

Burnley won the ball fair and square in midfield and Chris Vinnicombe - one of my contenders for man of the match - was supplied deep on the left flank.

The left back made ground before spotting Michael Williams in space. The delivery was perfect and Williams picked his spot to fire his first-ever goal for Burnley.

It left Luton stunned because the Burnley goal had arrived against the run of play after Marlon Beresford had been forced to work overtime in a fast and furious opening. First he produced a wonderful reaction save to deny David Oldfield from a Graham Alexander cross, before he was tested again as Lee Howey's deflected clearance was somehow kept out.

Indeed, the quick-thinking Luton forwards were a constant threat to the Burnley defence. But superbly marshalled by Neil Moore and captain Lee Howey, you began to wonder if they would ever breach the Burnley rearguard after Williams' opener.

Then two minutes of madness left Burnley trailing - just as they began to take charge of the proceedings.

And they were two set-piece scenarios that left poor Marlon Beresford with a face as red as a cricket ball.

Beresford has had a great season between the sticks, but he had to take the rap for Luton's second goal after Graham Alexander had levelled the score just seconds earlier with a thunderous 30-yard shot.

It was a cleverly worked free kick after Bryan Small and Paul McLaren had combined at the set-piece to set up Alexander's strike.

But the Luton goalscorer just couldn't believe his fortune 90 seconds later as he swept home a free kick into an unguarded net, with Beresford still organising his defensive wall.

Alexander reeled away in delight with the Burnley defenders pointing the finger in the direction of the embarrassed goalkeeper, still standing on the other side of his goal.

This was the ultimate test for the Clarets. Had they the necessary character to bounce back and take the contest to a Luton side now in the ascendancy? Waddle gave the first hint of Burnley's intentions, sending Paul Weller clear with a peach of a through ball, only for the Luton goalkeeper to save at the feet of the Burnley midfielder.

In fact, Weller had a five-star match, harrying, hassling and inventing all over the park.

Then Beresford atoned for his earlier mistake saving from Oldfield after Alexander had again provided the ammunition.

But you sensed Burnley had reserves in their tank and on the hour their dogged resistance paid off.

Burnley won a corner following a quick-fire Paul Barnes attack.

Waddle curled over the kick for Barnes to head across the face of the Luton goal.

And there was the figure of goal poacher Gerry Creaney to force home his seventh goal since arriving from Manchester City on loan in September.

Burnley sensed the kill was on and four minutes later the Clarets had the points in the bag.

Again, the hard-working Barnes was in the thick of the action, outpacing his marker and taking the ball into the Luton penalty box.

Barnes cleverly spotted the opening, and from a very acute angle, slipped his shot past Kelvin Davis to send the Burnley fans wild with delight.

And, despite desperate Luton pressure in the final quarter, which saw Oldfield crash a glorious opportunity against the Burnley crossbar, Waddle's men held tight for their first away win under the new management team.

Another precious milestone for Waddle and his improving squad.

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