Eighteen-year-old Trevor Steven came to the rescue at Elm Park on Saturday - and saved not only Burnley's unbeaten record but also a drab match. His spectacularly-struck 30-yard goal was totally out of context in an untidy game and rounded off another bright display by the Clarets' latest exciting prospect. Whatever the ex-schoolboy international from Berwick on Tweed achieves in football he will never forget the moment he scored in the Football League for the first time. With Burnley trailing 1-0 Eric Potts and Kevin Young played a short corner on the left. Young then laid a square pass to Steven who ran on to it and smacked a first-time drive which dipped and swerved beyond the despairing fingers of goalkeeper Fearon.

The goal was one which Burnley badly needed. But on the balance of play they deserved it. Reading had been the better side in a scrappy first 45 minutes, while Burnley looked a lot more dangerous after the break and - in a period of pressure after the equaliser - might even have won. They were sound enough in defence where the decision to abandon the sweeper system proved to be no handicap. Goalkeeper Alan Stevenson, captaining the team again in the absence of the injured Martin Dobson, had to be at his best in the first half when Burnley put nothing together in attack and were under pressure for most of the 45 minutes.

In the 42nd minute Burnley were relieved to see Cullen's header bounce back off the crossbar with Stevenson beaten. But there was no escape a minute later when Tommy Cassidy's mis-hit back pass ricocheted to let in 18-year-old Neil Webb and the England Youth international calmly drove a low shot into the net. Five minutes into the second half Stevenson kept Burnley in the match with a full-length save from Sanchez's 18 yard drive - and then Burnley, at last, started to play. They should have equalised in the 55th minute when Potts set up Cassidy with a simple chance. Then came Steven's 62nd minute goal and with Reading rocking, Burnley were close to adding a second.

The result extended Burnley's unbeaten record to eight matches - six of which have been drawn. (From a match report by Peter Higgs)

Reading (5-2-3): Fearon; Williams, Hicks, Wood, Hetzke, Cullen; Sanchez, Beavon; Kearney (sub Dixon 74 mins), Heale, Webb
Burnley (4-4-2): Stevenson; Laws, Overson, Phelan, Wharton; Steven, Cassidy, Young, Potts; Hamilton, McGee. Sub: Scott (not used).
Referee: Mr K. Barratt, of Coventry. Attendance: 4,089