A previously unpublished image of match play.

Burnley's Frank Casper scored one of the best goals the Second Division will see this or any other season in the 58th minute of an entertaining action-packed Manor Ground match on Saturday 28th August 1971, giving him three in the same number of games. This latest Casper strike was a model of control, power and shooting accuracy. He was in the inside left position, on the edge of the penalty-area, when Alan West slipped through a low pass. All in one fluent movement Casper controlled the ball, teed it up for himself and then banged it into the top left-hand corner at lightning speed. Unfortunately from Burnley's angle they were two goals down at the time and they were unable to grab another.

Although Burnley had looked the slicker, smarter team, in the 14th minute Oxford took the lead when Roberts kicked in his first goal for his club in a league match. That easily conceded goal changed the whole atmosphere of the match and Oxford began to look more and more dangerous. There was a hint at the start of the second half that Burnley might repeat their Ninian Park fight back but the defence was becoming a shambles and got itself into a tangle to allow Cassidy to ram in a second goal. In the last 20 minutes a little solidity returned and the substitution of reserve team man Collins for the below par West gave Burnley two dangerous forwards instead of just Casper.


Oxford United: Kearns, Lucas, Gruker, Roberts, Clarke (C), Evanson, Sloan, Atkinson (G), Cassidy, Clark (D), Atkinson (R). Sub: Sheen (not called on)
Burnley: Walters, Docherty, Cliff, Bellamy, Waldron, Dobson, Thomas, West, Fletcher, Casper, Kindon. Sub: Collins (replaced West after 63 minutes)
Referee: Clive Thomas (Treorchy), Attendance: 6,136.