IN terms of the match Lee Briscoe's stoppage time goal was virtually irrelevant but come the end of the season it could turn out to be one of the most important goals in Burnley's proud history.

Another woeful first half display had seen the Clarets fall three goals behind and any hope of securing a play-off place a week before the end of the season was gone.

With Norwich leading 2-0 at Barnsley and the match into stoppage time Burnley were facing kicking off the last game of the season outside the top six.

But almost unnoticed, certainly by the home fans who were busy celebrating first division survival, Briscoe popped up to convert a left wing cross from David Johnson and ensure Burnley stayed in sixth, albeit on goals scored.

To have dropped out of the play-off places on the penultimate weekend would have been a crushing psychological blow. Now their fate remains in their own hands - just!

The vital goal came after Burnley's best spell of pressure in the whole game as they made and missed a series of good chances.

Boss Stan Ternent knew how important a goal could prove to be in the final analysis and he had gambled everything by the time the second half kicked off.

Paul Weller had already replaced Dean West as Ternent opted for a back three having seen the Mariners score twice in the first 12 minutes. Then, at the interval, Paul Gascoigne and Gareth Taylor came on for Kevin Ball and Glen Little.

"The changes were tactical," confirmed Ternent. "We wanted to score some goals and we won the second half 1-0."

It had looked as if that would not be the case in a remarkable closing spell that started 13 minutes from time. Every Burnley player was looking to push forward and that was evident as skipper Steve Davis delivered a cross that was met by Briscoe's header and impressive keeper Danny Coyne tipped his effort over the bar.

Then in the 84th minute another defender Arthur Gnohere burst forward and delivered a brilliant pass to Paul Gascoigne who had got free in the box. All he had to do was beat Coyne from close range but the man who has scored memorable goals at the highest level dragged his shot wide.

The chances kept coming and the chances kept going. Davis was again involved three minutes from time when he flicked on a cross and Taylor was denied his 16th goal of the season when Coyne saved his header.

Davis then blasted over when he should have done better after good work by Johnson down the right.

It looked all over but the Clarets have scored some key late goals this season and so it proved. Like Weller at Watford, like Gnohere against Forest, like Johnson against Wolves, like Payton against Crewe there was a final twist in the tale.

Scoring a late, late consolation might not feel like any great reason to celebrate but a look at the table this morning confirms just how important Briscoe's fifth goal of the season was.

The word prolific could never be applied to the man who has been asked to fill a number of left sided roles this season. Before the season started he had scored just two league goals in 112 games and he had never netted for the Clarets.

But in a purple patch at the start of the season he had scored four times by mid-October including a vital double strike as a sub against Walsall.

No player has started more league games for Burnley this campaign but he has come no closer to a fifth goal than when smashing a free-kick against the post at Watford with Ian Cox netting the rebound.

Now there is the chance that he has written his name into Clarets folklore although that will very much depend on what happens at Turf Moor on Sunday.

One thing is certain, if they start in the same way as they did at Blundell Park it is likely to be the Canaries that are singing songs of praise on Sunday.

Michael Boulding gave up a promising tennis career to take up football and the lightning quick striker set about smashing Burnley's play-off hopes in spectacular style.

With Bradley Allen and Terry Cooke also a threat the Mariners started at 100mph while the Clarets were stuck in first gear.

In the fifth minute Boulding got the ball wide on the left and cut inside and past Davis as if he wasn't there before stroking the ball home like a forehand down the line.

The pacy striker was causing Davis no end of problems and Ternent was quick to give Gnohere the job of shackling him. But it was easier said than done and when a quick free kick sent him down the right his low cross found Danny Butterfield Nik Michopoulos initially saved but the loose ball broke to Allen to score.

Burnley steadied the ship with the introduction of Paul Weller but two minutes before the break the mountain that Ternent talked about became an Everest.

More quick thinking by Cooke set Boulding down the inside right channel, Michopoulos gambled and lost by rushing from his goal and the striker squeezed the ball into the net from a narrow angle.

It was a dream scenario for the home fans with virtually every one of them watching the game sporting the red caps given out to mark the announcement of a sponsor for their new stadium.

At 4.48pm it might have been more appropriate to have been black caps as the Mariners looked to be passing a death sentence on the Clarets hopes of a play-off spot.

But up stepped Briscoe with the goal that could provided a stay of execution. Now it is up to everyone connected with the club - management, players and fans - to make sure that nine months of hard work will not end up in the bitterest of disappointments.

GRIMSBY TOWN...3

Scorers:Boulding 5, 43, Allen 12

BURNLEY...1

Scorers: Briscoe 90

At Blundell Park

Attendance...9,275

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