Billy's magic moment...two-goal hero Billy Hamilton shows his delight as the final whistle sounds and Burnley have won 4-1 at White Hart Lane. By Peter Higgs.

Burnley pulled off their result of the century at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night. After the euphoria, delight, champagne and other assorted liquids flowed in celebration of their 4-1 victory over Spurs in the Milk Cup quarter-final it would be easy to over-exaggerate. Yet the fact remains that never in the field of football conflict in their 100-year history have they achieved a more unlikely or outrageous victory. It was an historic performance to rank alongside great clashes with Spurs from the glorious past. and if the present day Clarets do not have the reputation of their trophy-chasing predecessors from the Sixties does that not make Wednesday's victory all the more awesome? What achievement from the Burnley archives can improve on a team 21st in the Second Division knocking out the FA Cup holders? The fact that it was achieved on the day their manager was relieved of his duties; when Argentinian World Cup star Ossie Ardiles made his Spurs homecoming; when England goalkeeper Ray Clemence should have been sent off; and on the ground where Tottenham had not lost a cup-tie for nearly three years made it true storybook material, It was, surely, too good for Roy of the Rovers!
Burnley pulled off one of the sensations of the season with a remarkable display of skill, courage and character, aided by a welcome slice of good fortune. While the elaborate talents of Tottenham's international stars were there for all to see the Clarets were never overwhelmed or overawed and in key positions they had better performances. Burnley were strong in the middle of the defence through the displays of Michael Phelan and Martin Dobson. Tottenham were weak there. Centre backs Gary O'Reilly and Graham Roberts, in the words of their manager Keith Burkinshaw "played like novices," And he wasn't joking. Two-goal Billy Hamilton, who seems to thrive on the big-match atmosphere, was in just the mood to capitalise on their uncertainty. Any manager, given the choice, would surely have taken the Clarets' central defenders before those of Spurs any day and while they may not be true of the respective midfields, caretaker boss Frank Casper paid tribute to the way his players won the vital battles in this area of the pitch. "It was down to individual contests in midfield - Scott v Mabbutt, Flynn v Villa, Steven v Ardilles, and Young v Hoddle," said Mr Casper, "and we came out on top. The Spurs players had their moments and Ardilles, for example, showed a lot of skill and was their outstanding player. But Trevor Steven stuck with him and was looking the better player at the end of the match. That's what gives you hope for the future."
Burnley gained the confidence to win the match in a goal-less first-half. After a fifth minute run by Hamilton which forced Clemence to race from his line and block the ball the play was mostly towards the Burnley goal. But there was an escape for Spurs in the ninth minute when Roberts, who was later to score two own goals, got in some practice by slicing Kevin Young's centre goalward only to be reprieved by a reflex save from Clemence. As Spurs stepped up the pressure, Hoddle, who gave glimpses of his elegant passing skill, sent a 17th minute header against the bar and Brian Laws cleared a header from Roberts off the line. Yet Burnley closed down, marked, tackled and worked sufficiently hard to limit Spurs to rare opportunities, with alan Stevenson having to make only one difficult save before the break - a quick reaction block to Steve Archibald's 15-yard volley in the 44th minute. The belief in the Clarets, dressing room at half-time was that they could win. Forty-five seconds after the re-start they were a goal down. Hughton's long throw skidded of Phelan's head, Willie Donachie got a toe-end to the ball but it dropped to GIBSON who lashed it into the net from six yards. For 10 minutes Burnley rocked. Stevenson saved superbly from fierce shots by Ardiles and Hoddle and more comfortably from a Hoddle header. At that stage I couldn't see Burnley scoring and as the Spurs' fire faded the game looked set to drag out to an unexceptional form victory. but it sprang sensationally to life in the 65th minute as following a short corner on the right ROBERTS leaped to meet Young's curling cross and glanced the ball high into the top corner of the net giving Clemence no chance.
Suddenly it was a test of nerve. And Spurs bottled it. Clemence dropped a schoolboy clanger, was lucky not to be sent off and eventually conceded a goal through his carelessness. As the ex-Liverpool 'keeper raced from his goal to beat Hamilton to Flynn's through pass he had plenty of time to boot the ball to safety. Instead, in attempting a clever pass, he gave the ball to Young. The Burnley no.11 lobbed for gaol and Clemence, at least 10 yards outside his penalty area, leaped to parry the ball. It was a classic case of a professional foul to stop a probable goal, but referee Alf Grey merely booked him. The Great Arbiter in the sky must have been watching, however, for Burnley scored from the resulting free-kick. Young's kick went through the Spurs' wall, deflected off Ardiles, Steve Taylor running in stepped over the ball, and HAMILTON followed up to ram it home from four yards. A classic case of poetic justice! Spurs immediately brought on Gary Brooke for Villa and switched Mabutt to the centre but Burnley were the next to threaten when Brian Flynn thundered in a volley which Clemence knocked down. Archibald was then inches wide with a well-struck 25 yards drive before Burnley rounded off their victory with two goals in the last five minutes.
In the 85th minute a three-man cross-field move ended with Derek Scott putting Taylor away down the right wing, who ran 50 yards before delivering a short cross which ROBERTS, stretching to block, diverted into his own net. Hoddle gave one last glimpse of his talent as he curled a clever shot just over the bar, but then HAMILTON scored the goal of the game. From Young's forward chip he shrugged off O'Reilly and surged on towards the penalty area before crashing a 20-yard drive beyond Clemence. Within seconds the final whistle sent the jubilant Burnley team rushing to the mass of claret-and-blue supporters behind Stevenson's goal, who had given them such tremendous support during the game. It was a great moment for the loyal supporters to share, and if the Clarets were flattered by the score line, who cares? To say they belied their lowly league position would be an understatement. Although the concentration on Second Division points is now imperative the players are entitled to enjoy this famous victory for a day or two. the fans will savour it for a lot longer.

Spurs (4-4-2): Clemence, Perryman, O'Reilly, Roberts, Hughton, Hoddle, Villa (sub Brooke, 75 minutes), Ardiles, Mabutt, Gibson, Archibald.
Burnley (4-4-2): Stevenson, Laws, Dobson, Phelan, Donachie, Scott, Steven, Flynn, Young, Hamilton, Taylor. Sub: Holt.
Referee: Mr A. Grey, of Norfolk.
Attendance: 30, 771.