A GOAL in first half stoppage time was enough to hand the young Clarets a victory at Boundary Park as they overcame the hosts and some horrible weather.

Driving rain, high winds and bitter temperatures guaranteed it was a typically rough night at Oldham's ground and Ronnie Jepson's side had to weather a late storm to take all three points.

Oldham missed a penalty, Earl Davis brilliantly cleared a shot off the line and a couple of other chances went begging in a frantic finale. That meant that Pilkington's goal was the winner, securing only the second win of the season after a four week break without a game with a display full of determination.

It had been against the run of play that the Clarets had taken the lead at the end of the first half.

The lively Wayne Andrews had been a constant threat as the home side played into the wind but used the elements to hold the ball up as they pushed forward.

Fortunately for Burnley his finishing did not match the rest of his game and he shot over and wide on three occasions when well placed. His strike partner Scott Vernon saw a shot blocked by Davis.

But with the warmth of the dressing room beckoning, Burnley struck. Paul Scott launched a free kick into the are and when it was cleared was quick into the tackle to get the ball back into the area.

Nifty footwork from Davis then allowed Pilkington to break through and supply a cool finish, slipping the ball past David Miskelly.

The goal gave Burnley the momentum and in the opening minutes of the second half they played their best football, knocking the ball around well against a more experienced side. Once again the Clarets did not have a single player who had played a league game whereas most of the Latics had.

As the second half wore on the home side got on top and James Salisbury had to produce some fine handling to claim a barrage of crosses humped in in the high wind.

Burnley were hanging on but Pilkington did go close to getting a second after good work by Damien Hindle.

But five minutes from time Matty O'Neill was harshly adjudged to have fouled Michael Clegg in the box and so it was perhaps justice that Andrews hit the inside of the post and saw the ball stay out.

The big striker immediatley missed another good chance before sub Craig Fleming saw Davis produce an incredible goal line clearance to deny him a last gasp equaliser.

OLDHAM ATHLETIC: Miskelly, Clegg, Haining, Boshell, Tierney (Bass 72), Davenport, Hall, Gill, Griffin, Andrews, Vernon (Fleming 76).

BURNLEY: Salisbury, Pitham, Davis, Eves, Scott, Rasmussen, Waine, Pilkington, O'Neill, Chaplow, Hindle. Subs not used: Townsend, Grimes, Carpenter, Blakey.

OLDHAM RES...0 BURNLEY RES...1