LEON Cort was the hero as Burnley came from behind to snatch a late victory.

The Clarets trailed until eight minutes from the end after slipping behind to Peter Jones’ first-half opener.

And it needed a moment of magic from Steven Thompson to get them back into the game.

His sweetly taken goal was quickly followed by Cort’s dramatic effort to ensure Burnley head off to Singapore with their 100 per cent pre-season record intact.

Brian Laws took a full strength squad down to Oldham hoping to build on Saturday’s 3-0 defeat of Bury.

But he was rightly wary of taking on a Latics side now bossed by the feisty Paul Dickov.

Chris Iwelumo started up front with Chris Eagles and Jay Rodriguez either side of him, while summer capture Dean Marney anchored the midfield.

Forgotten man of last season Brian Easton slotted in at left back with Richard Eckersley on the other flank following his return from a loan spell at Plymouth.

Oldham started with former Manchester United youngster Ritchie Jones in midfield. But it was his partner in the centre of the park, Dale Stephens, whose incisive sixth-minute pass split open Burnley’s defence allowing Jones to slip between Clarke Carlisle and Eckersley to dart into the box.

Jones kept his cool, despite seeing the imposing frame of Brian Jensen charging out, slid his low finish just inside the far post.

Burnley were gifted a chance to bounce back into the game in the 15th minute when Rod McDonald dived in on Eckersley and sent him sprawling.

Iwelumo was presented with the chance to net his first Clarets goal from the spot and aimed his effort down low to keeper Dean Brill’s left.

But the experienced shot-stopper guessed right and got both hands to the ball just inside the upright to deny the front man and ensure Graham Alexander’s reign as Burnley’s penalty-kick king will continue.

The Latics nearly rubbed salt into Burnley’s wounds by breaking up the other end and only Eckersley’s brave block stopped Phil McGrath cracking home a volley.

Laws’ men were hardly looking fluid despite the efforts of Chris McCann and Wade Elliott in midfield, but Eagles should have done better with a volley when a clearance dropped to him in the area.

Eagles then swung a free kick wide as Burnley struggled to find a way through the heart of the Oldham backline.

Laws made eight changes at the interval, although Rodriguez was given more game time to build on his promising opening 45 minutes.

Thompson came on to lead the line with Ross Wallace taking up a left-wing spot. Andre Bikey and Cort formed a formidable defensive duo with Alexander sat in front of them.

Jensen continued in goal and was tested in the 59th minute by Tom Eaves’ shot he batted away.

And as the game became ragged the Clarets finally started to make an impact in front of the 1,038 traveling supporters.

David Edgar sent over a pinpoint cross for Rodriguez to head at goal.

The ball was flying towards goal until Brill pulled off a sensational stop to tip his effort over the bar.

Youngsters Wes Fletcher and Alex-Ray Harvey were given a 15 minute run-out as Burnley struggled to snatch an equaliser.

That hope was nearly forlorn when an Oldham trialist burst through the centre of a defence not helped by the labouring Bikey. But Jensen saved the day again by forcing the youngster wide.

Moments later Danny Fox was involved in some off-the-ball handbags with Ryan Brooke that led to the Oldham player being subbed as punishment.

That angered the home fans and they were booing when Fox set up Thompson’s leveller.

Fox’s angled ball over the home defence was brilliantly plucked out of the air by the Scottish striker before he gently lifted his crafted finish over the keeper to make it two in two for the hitman.

And with four minutes left Leon Cort snatched the win by hanging in the air at the far post to nod home Alexander’s typically precise free-kick.

Burnley first half: Brian Jensen, Richard Eckersley, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Brian Easton, Dean Marney, Wade Elliott, Chris McCann, Chris Eagles, Jay Rodriguez, Chris Iwelumo.

Second half: Brian Jensen, Danny Fox, Leon Cort, Andre Bikey, David Edgar, Graham Alexander, Kevin McDonald, Wade Elliott (Alex-Ray Harvey 75), Ross Wallace, Jay Rodriguez (Wes Fletcher 75), Steven Thompson.