ON Thursday night at Clitheroe Football Club Stan Ternent admitted to Clarets fans he could not choose between Graham Branch and Gareth Taylor as his player of the season.

On Saturday afternoon both men showed why they are also heading the polls with the many supporters' clubs across the country.

At one end of the pitch Taylor led the line in typical style, smashing home an impressive volley to open the scoring.

At the other Graham Branch produced another composed performance in the heart of the defence to suggest that after his nomadic wandering down the left flank of the side he has found a place he can call home.

Ternent had been loathe to single out any players when he was asked the question last week but he was happy to sing the praises of the two men after the 2-0 win against Gillingham.

Taylor's 28th minute goal was the 17th of his season, bettering last year's career's best of 17 with three games still to go.

"I don't think there is a better striker to lead the line in the division," claimed Ternent. "He has got himself back in the Wales international squad.

"That is a strong squad at the moment and that is testament to how well he is doing."

Having been barracked too often in his Burnley career, the fans have now started chanting "Branchy for England" and while that is a little fanciful, with his contract up in the summer, his form this season suggests it will still be "Branchy for Burnley" next season.

And if he continues to impress at centre back he could be a permanent fixture in a role he has filled almost by accident.

"Branchy can play anywhere," he said before listing the reasons why he has settled so well in defence. "He is strong in the air, very quick and he can go off both sides.

"I can play him anywhere but at centre back, well he looks the part there. But he has done well at left back, on the left side and at centre forward. But he and Drissa did well."

In truth there will be many tougher tests for Branch should he become a full time centre back than that posed by a toothless Gillingham side.

Mamady Sidibe was a light-weight front man and Paul Shaw and Nicky Southall struggled in their supporting role. In fact it was only the impressive youngster Danny Spiller who was a threat to the home side, forcing a couple of fine saves from Nik Michopoulos.

But the fact remains that everything that Branch had to do, he did well.

A couple of important interceptions, some sharp tackles, brave headers and one superbly cool bit of defending near the end all helped earn him the man of the match vote from both the fans and the sponsors.

Ternent has promised big changes for next season and while new players will come in, perhaps with Branch growing into his new role, a new centre back will perhaps be lower on his list of priorities.

At 30 and 31 respectively, Taylor and Branch are very experienced but two other players to shine on Saturday were the youngsters Matty O'Neill and Richard Chaplow.

O'Neill was handed his first start after three successive substitute appearances as Dimitri Papadopoulos was ruled out with an injured hip and he had a hand, or to be more accurate, two hands in both the goals.

Much as Dave Challinor did for years at Tranmere, O'Neill causes problems for the opposing defence with his huge long throws into the box.

In the first half the Gillingham defenders struggled to deal with a ball that landed by the near post and when it was only half cleared to Ian Moore he cleverly nodded the ball on to Taylor's foot and he found the back of the net.

Five minutes after the break another throw was launched into the area and on this occasion Diallo glanced a header into the corner catching Gills' keeper Vince Bartram flat-footed.

The throw from the teenager is as good as a corner and Ternent said: "He's got a fantastic throw, young Matty and it is very difficult to defend."

But there is more to his game than that and he was always willing to accept the ball wide on the left and chase defenders down in the cause.

Chaplow had his longest outing in the side as he came on for injured Paul Weller a couple of minutes before the break.

With the more experienced Gordon Armstrong an option, it was a vote of confidence in the 18-year-old and he rewarded his manager with a composed and confident display.

He got about the field well, rarely wasted a pass and was happy to keep it simple, picking out players in the same coloured shirts. It sounds straightforward but it is easy for young players to try and push too hard, do too much.

In the closing minutes Ternent took to four the number of young players he has handed a first team debut to this month as Andrew Waine and Mark Rasmussen came on to at least get a taste of the action.

Having played their part on Saturday, both O'Neill and Chaplow will be hoping to feature this afternoon against Nottingham Forest, a club that is enjoying success based on the ebullience of youth.

Both players must have a chance of being named as the club's young player of the year but only time will tell if they will be challenging the likes of Taylor and Branch for the senior honour in years to come.

BURNLEY 2

Scorers: Taylor 28, Diallo 50

GILLINGHAM 0

At Turf Moor Att: 14,031