MATCH REPORTS
BURNLEY 1, WREXHAM 2 (May 2nd)
WREXHAM came to Burnley and spoiled the championship party. The Fourth
Division title had been clinched at York the previous Tuesday and that was when
the celebrations started. The Fourth Division Trophy and the £25,000 winner's
cheque were presented before the start of the game and, in truth, the football was
the last thing that mattered on a day when the fans celebrated the end of seven
long years in the Fourth Division. It was a game that needed a goal to liven it
up and Michael Conroy provided one after half-an-hour when he headed home
a John Francis cross. The goal sparked some life into the match, but mainly into
Wrexham and they went on to score twice in the second half both goals coming
from long-range shots. But even the defeat couldn't dampen the spirits of the
players or fans as 21,216 said a happy farewell to a championship season. There
was still a game to go, but the Wrexham match was the last home game of the
season, always something of an emotional affiar.
BURNLEY: Williams, Measham, Jakub, Davis, Pender, Farrell (Yates 51), Painter,
Deary, Francis Conroy, McKenzie (Monington 74).
WREXHAM: O'Keefe, Thackeray, Hardy, Thomas (Lewis 80), Humes, Sertori,
Taylor, Owen, Connolly, Watkin, Phillips (Paskin 54).
Referee: Mr J. L. Watson (Whitley Bay). Bookings: None. Attendance: 21,216.
ROCHDALE 1, BURNLEY 3 (May 5th)
THE Clarets really signed off in style when they travelled to play Rochdale as the
curtain came down on a championship season. The game had twice been
postponed and was eventually played after the official end of the season much
to the frustration of Barnet who had to wait and see if they had finished in the
play-offs or if Rochdale were going to sneak in at the last minute. In the end Barry
Fry and his league newcomers had nothing to worry about. The Barnet manager
was in the Spotland stand and saw John Ryan give Rochdale the lead. But the
Clarets hit back hard and for the next 40 minutes or so played their best football
of the season and romped to a 3-1 win. Ian Measham levelled the scores with
a rare goal after good work by Steve Harper the winger had his best game
in Claret and Blue colours and Michael Conroy made it 2-1 to Burnley with
a stunning goal after Harper had looped the ball into him. The goal that put the
issue beyond doubt came in the second half when a corner was flicked on by
John Pender and Robbie Painter headed home from three yards out.
ROCHDALE: Rose, M. Brown, Graham, T. Brown. Reeves, Payne (Whitehall 53),
Ryan Milner, Flounders, Leonard, Parker. Sub not used: Bowden.
BURNLEY: Williams, Measham, Jakub, Davis, Pender, Yates, Painter (McKenzie
75), Deary, Francis, Conroy, Harper. Sub not used: Monington.
Referee: Mr V. Callow (Solihull). Bookings: Yates (45 mins), Parker (54 mins).
Attendance: 8,175.
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