La Donna e Mobile

A full strength Burnley squad, with a guest player in the number 20 shirt who went by the name of Steve Cotterill, took on a familiar looking Graham Branch XI managed by former Clarets' boss Stan Ternent. Players from both teams formed a guard of honour for Branch who came out as La Donna e Mobile was played over the public address system with the crowd singing the newer, more popular lyrics of Graham Di Branchio.

His side included a number of players from the Ternent era and also some from earlier Burnley teams including evergreen David Eyres and another former Burnley boss Adrian Heath. Heath was looking somewhat portly, but he wasn't the only one as we saw with David Hamilton and Micky Mellon, as well as John Francis who came on as a substitute. Only two of his side were not former Clarets, they were Ian Snodin and the unknown Chris Camden who turned out to be a mate of the beneficiary.

It was hardly competitive, and other than Cotterill taking Eyres out there was hardly a foul, but there was some good football played particularly in a first half that saw the current Clarets take a 2-0 lead through Kyle Lafferty and Alan Mahon before Ian Moore did what he's been unable to do for Leeds, he scored a goal to take us into the interval at 2-1.

Burnley's newest professional Jay Rodriguez thought he'd restored the two goal advantage early in the second half but it was ruled out for offside and it was shortly after that the game became somewhat less serious.

Branchy's team equalised when Danny Coyne decided to race into the midfield with the ball before losing it. It presented Steve Davis with an open goal, although to be fair to the former captain he was well over forty yards from goal. He made no mistake although Michael Duff made a gallant attempt to keep it out.

2-2 but the Clarets were soon back in front with the goal we never thought would come, from Steve Jones. He'd missed a fair number of chances (easy ones at that) but this time hammered in past Craig Mawson. That led to another equaliser as everyone stood aside to let Branch score to make it 3-3.

Jay got his goal to get us back in front before Brian Jensen netted twice, yes you've read it correctly. In a somewhat ill fitting number 11 kit owned by the not quite so big Wade Elliott he played up front whilst Joey Gudjonsson took his place in goal.

Burnley had won it, and there was just time for Branchy's mate to score the last goal of the game. 6-4 to Burnley it was, so we did win the last game of the season after all.

Speaking after the game Branch said: "I've had a lot of ups and downs, but I've enjoyed it and I will be very sad to leave this place. I have had a lot of good times and I'm so glad that I came and I'll never forget Burnley.

"I didn't know how emotional I would be, but I could feel it and it was hard. I'll get stick from all the lads, but I don't mind because I couldn't help it. It was a great turn out and it was just a brilliant day. The gaffer rang me this morning and said to enjoy every minute because it would go so quickly. I did, but I certainly enjoyed it while it lasted."