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Millwall score the first of seven goals at The Den on Saturday as Nicky Charleston (No. 4) curls a free-kick past the Burnley defensive wall into the corner of the net.

Burnley played their best football of the season on Saturday and made their contribution to a thoroughly entertaining match at The Den. But it did them no good in the end as they lost 4-3 to move one place nearer the bottom of the Third Division table.

Looking at the positive side at least it was enjoyable to watch the Clarets. They played the ball around well, took a good percentage of their chances and might, with a bit better fortune, have got a point. But, having shown plenty of spirit up to the interval when they pulled back from 2-1 down to lead 3-2, they caved in when the pressure got really hot in the second half.

Burnley went behind after nine minutes when their defensive organisation at a free-kick went badly awry. As ex-Claret Alan West backheeled the ball to Chatterton the midfield man sent in a soft, curling shot which went round the end of the defensive wall and crept into the far corner of the net. In a see-sawing first half Burnley hit back to equalise in the 23rd minute with a goal from Brian Laws. Millwall regained the lead in the 35th minute when the Clarets marking was caught out to leave West a simple tap in goal from Horrix's cross. The way Burnley's season has shaped up so far the odds against them scoring twice in three minutes to take the lead were long indeed. But that's just what they did. In the 42nd minute Eric Potts was on hand to volley the ball into the net when goalkeeper Gleasure failed to hold a corner from Stuart Robertson. And then in the 44th minute, Vince Overson netted the goal of the match. From a free-kick on the left, taken by David Holt, the young centre-half timed his leap perfectly to send a header curling over Gleasure into the far corner of the net.

But it was clear that the scoring had not ended and Burnley were unable to retain their lead when Millwall pressed hard in the second half. John Bartley slammed the equaliser during a goalmouth scramble in the 55th minute and then Peter Anderson headed the winner 22 minutes from time. The Millwall player manager was left unmarked as a cross came in from the right and he was able to direct a powerful header wide of Stevenson. (Part of a match report by Peter Higgs)


Millwall (4-3-3): Gleasure; Roberts, Allardyce, Martin, Warman; Chatterton, Anderson, West; Dibble, Horrix, Bartley. Sub: Hayes (not used).
Burnley (4-3-3): Stevenson; Laws, Overson, Dobson, Holt; Scott, Steven, Robertson; Potts, Hamilton (sub: Dixon 81 minutes), Taylor.
Referee: Mr M. Taylor, of Kent. Attendance: 4,877.