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His three goals this season (West Ham, Wimbledon & Derby) have all brought with them points into Clarets survival kitty, but this goal is probably the one most will recall when referring back to Branch in years to come.
On a hot Spring day, Clarets gained the upper hand and the vital three points by edging what was a game of quality football despite the importance of the result to both sides in their respective battles to preserve their divisional status'.
The home team was as that from Tuesday, with Ian Moore still absent and Neil Wood only making the subs bench in preference to Joel Pilkington.
It was the Rams that started the brighter and Ian Taylor's first minute downward header from a corner should really have put the visitors in front, but his miss was a costly one as his guided effort was just wide of the post.
The game flowed from end to end in the early stages and Clarets had their first sight of goal on three minutes as livewire Weller was obstructed in the "D". Blake's free kick was charged down by the wall and May's header from the resulting corner was cleared from the line as both sides began to create good chances.
Chaplow was allowed to continue after cutting the bridge of his nose, the noisy crowd delighted at his return after treatment.
Peskilidlguy was acting as Derby's "Blake" and he was to be instrumental in most of Derby's good forward play and it was he that would cause Clarets rearguard many problems with his inventive forward passes and general creativity.
The game continued at pace and Clarets almost took the lead on twenty minutes. Camara's great low cross beat 'keeper Grant and as Blake looked to tap home at the far post, in came Jackson with a great piece of defending to clear Derby's lines.
Immediately, play switched to the other end and a brave block from Weller stopped Derby from taking the lead as a series of ricochets fell kindly for the visiting attack.
Clarets defence was caught out on twenty four minutes, Pesklidlguy's ball across the area found Manel who missed a sitter when putting his shot high into the massed ranks of Rams fans here to add to the atmosphere for the largest Turf Moor gate to date this season.
Blake's attempt to con the referee on the half hour went unpunished, but at that stage, Blake's movement and Chaplow's seemingly endless energy levels were providing Clarets best options when going forwards. Sadly, there was little from Little and his contribution down the right was poor once again.
'Keeper Grant and defender Johnson almost conjured another Wimblekeynes from midweek when messing up on the edge of their area, but Blake was unable to capitalise before the ball was hacked away for a corner.
Manel headed over when unmarked as Derby threatened again, once again Peskildlguy the provider. The Beast was called into action moments later, as a sweeping Derby move ended with Osman's powerful drive being well saved at his near post.
Clarets took the lead five minutes from the break when McGregor's long ball down Clarets left looked to carry little initial threat. Branch was in pursuit of Mawene and his persistence got the better of the defender, allowing Branch to cut towards the area and from the edge of which he hit a low right footed shot that went under a poorly positioned Grant and into the far corner.
Fifteen thousand went delirious in the sunshine to the sounds of the Proclaimers and the team went in at the break shortly afterwards to well deserved applause. HT 1-0.
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Camara's next action was also memorable as he blocked Peskylidlguy as he broke dangerously into the area. Derby were beginning to get the upper hand in the early stages of the half with Clarets taking a breather, content to sit deep and defend.
When Clarets did next attack ten minutes in, it should have resulted in a crucial second goal. Camara was again the provider, his run and great cross saw Grant fumble, Branch's shot from eight yards went straight at the fortunate keeper when a yard either side would have been preferable.
The miss was a bad one yet it lifted the crowd still further and their response was tremendous, the ground filled for once with an atmosphere to savour as 3,500 Rams began to sit in silence, worried that this was not to be their day, their run without an away win since September the achilles heel in their season of possible woe.
Peskildlguy was involved in a breakaway moments later but his ball across the face of goal was thankfully just too far in front of Bolder allowing Weller to get back and clear the danger. Manel was not given offside by a dozing linesman and the Beast was superb when blocking the follow up drive from Tudgay, McGregor and May tigrish in their determination to clear the loose ball.
Reich replaced Bolder and Wood replaced Little midway though the half as Clarets began to edge proceedings, before Camara was booked for stupidly knocking the ball out of the thrower's hands when late in getting back into position.
A recently bleached Chadwick came on for a tiring Blake as Clarets looked to maintain the high tempo, but it was Derby who created the next chance Johnson's header superbly saved by Jensen low to his left.
Surprisingly, Peskildlguy was replaced by Junior as Burley looked for a more direct approach in the closing stages of a thoroughly entertaining game.
Junior's arrival almost brought about an equaliser, his clever flick from a corner needing Chaplow's efforts on the line to clear. As time ticked away, Clarets looked to keep the ball up field whenever and however possible. Chadwick chased and harried, Branch did likewise, the team as whole played their respective parts in ensuring there was no way through and by the time Mr Evans blew for time, Derby had simply run out of ideas and energy.
The Clarets deservedly won and many a Claret nipped off for a quick sherbet on the way home to celebrate. This was good day to be a Claret. FT 1-0.
Bums on Seats:- 15,133
Star Gazer
Glen Little. Another out of sorts under par performance where we saw very little from Little in his seventy minute meander in the sunshine. His substitution did not sadly comes as a surprise.
Beer Money
This was at times a champagne day on beer money. The only sad factor was Glen Little and that Clarets could not put the game beyond Derby. Otherwise, everything was good about this afternoon and the League table looks a a lot rosier now than it did a week ago.
Star Geezer
Paul Weller. Ran and ran and ran, not often words you would use when describing Clarets longest serving player. This was an inspired performance of guts and determination where he simply turned back the clocks and put in a performance the calibre of which most thought were behind him.
Champagne Tastes
Back to back home games and both massively important. It's often the case that Clarets deliver a let down in such key moments in a season, but not thankfully this time around. A good, solid display and a great atmosphere in the ground, almost ensured first division football next season. If ever there was a launch pad for selling season tickets aplenty, this was it. Watch that ticket barometer soar next week.