HAT-TRICK hero Robbie Blake turned on the style for Burnley's reserve side to edge them nearer safety in the Avon Insurance Premier Division.

Reserve boss Ronnie Jepson welcomed a rare opportunity to field a good mix of experience and youth and it paid dividends as the seniors in the second string righted the wrongs of the 7-2 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Blake was a lone ranger up front in a 4-5-1 formation and the Clarets £1 million man soon found a way past goalkeeper Paul Rutherford, who had earlier denied Tony Grant with a simple stop from the midfielder's header.

Blake was on target from close range after Matthew O'Neill made a strong run down the left flank, found the ex-Bantam unmarked inside the six-yard box and the striker side-footed the ball into the bottom corner on 15 minutes.

Mark McGregor was handed a chance to make it 2-0 after O'Neill again surged down the left and supplied a dangerous delivery, but McGregor couldn't get it under control first time.

Clarets keeper Michopoulos had saved well from Gary Browne's fierce drive but then the Shakers drew level as Chris Porter sent a glancing header past the Greek stopper after Tom Kennedy launched a free kick into the box.

Bury took the lead six minutes into the second half when Ian Lawson beat substitute goalkeeper James Salisbury, after appeals for a foul on McGregor on the right wing were turned down.

But Burnley's frustration at going behind to a reasonably young Shakers' second string served only to send them, and Blake, into overdrive.

Brad Maylett's right-wing cross found an unmarked Blake in the centre of goal and he sent a bullet header past Rutherford on 61 minutes.

His hat-trick was complete a minute later when Salisbury's long punt upfield bounced over centre half Nicky Hill, Blake let it bounce before sending a sublime chip into the back of the net.

O'Neill claimed Burnley's fourth after knocking in Andrew Waine's header virtually on the line. Then, after Rutherford tipped McGregor's header onto the bar, Richard Chaplow picked up the loose ball when Waine's shot was parried and the teeanger finished well.

Arthur Gnohere made it 6-2 as he sneaked into the penalty box to head home Blake's 25-yard free kick for a foul on Chaplow.

Mark Rasmussen replaced Tony Grant with five minutes to go and completed the scoring in the dying seconds. O'Neill sent a great ball over from the left and Rasmussen buried it after striking it first time.

Burnley: Michopoulos (Salisbury 46), Pitham, Gnohere, Chaplow, McGregor, Leeson, Maylett, Waine, Blake, Grant (Rasmussen 85), O'Neill. Subs not used: Townsend, Grimes, Pugh.

Bury: Rutherford, Whalley, Kennedy, Hill, Barrass, Cartledge, Gunby, Buchanan (Horrocks 77), Porter (Maden 77), Lawson, Browne (Kazim-Richards 57). Subs not used: Fenwick, Smith.

BURNLEY RESERVES ...7

BURY RESERVES ...2