Steven Thompson and Leon Cort pounced to bag the late goals which kept the Clarets' pre-season preparations smoothly on track at Boundary Park.

Thompson just can't stop scoring and made it two in three days to follow up his flurry at the end of last season to cancel out Oldham's early opener with eight minutes to go.

And Cort then claimed his first goal in a Burnley shirt four minutes from time when he headed home to complete another useful night's work for Brian Laws' men.

The Clarets certainly didn't have it all their own way as Oldham made it a serious test in their first home game under new boss Paul Dickov.

But as well as getting some more miles into the legs, with Laws giving all his fit senior players another meaningful work-out, Burnley are also beginning to form a welcome winning habit.

After after extending their perfect start to their pre-season programme, the Clarets will now head to Singapore next weekend in fine fettle.

As on Saturday at Bury, the Clarets had started slowly and this time went behind after six minutes.

Wade Elliott was tackled on half-way and when Dale Stephens released Peter Jones the on-trial striker kept his nerve to slide a low shot past Brian Jensen.

The lead should have lasted no more than ten minutes as Burnley were offered an almost immediate route back into the game via the penalty spot.

Richard Eckersley looked to have over-run the ball as he burst into the box but referee Andy Haines ruled that Rod McDonald's challenge was worthy of a spot-kick.

With Graham Alexander waiting on the bench, Iwelumo assumed the responsibility but Dean Brill's fine save left the big striker waiting for his first goal in a Burnley shirt.

Fellow summer recruit Dean Marney found himself in a similar situation when he volleyed wide after being teed up by Iwelumo.

But the openings were beginning to come for the Clarets with Chris Eagles again looking lively whenever Burnley went forward and Jay Rodriguez also looking the part.

Eagles lifted an effort just over the top after a Rodriguez header had been only half-cleared and Elliott then lacked the power to beat Brill from just inside the penalty area after Eckersley and Chris McCann had turned defence into attack.

Elliott and Rodriguez were the only two outfield players to resume at the start of the second half as Laws made the anticipated wholesale changes to maximise the playing time for his squad.

However, Jensen continued in goal and the big keeper was forced into action with an hour gone when he beat away a fierce drive from Dean Lomax before launching a daring dribble from his penalty area to the amusement of the 1,000 Burnley fans inside Boundary Park.

Dickov changed his entire side at the break and the League One side certainly didn't give Burnley an easy ride.

Goal-scoring opportunities proved hard to chisel out, although Rodriguez thought he had levelled with 20 minutes to go.

Alexander's sweeping pass found David Edgar advancing from the right-back berth and Edgar's cross was perfect for Rodriguez to connect with a header which was bound for the top corner until Greg Fleming made a magnificent finger-tip save.

Oldham could then have wrapped it up when Lewis Alessandra went clear but again Jensen did well to force the striker wide and waste the chance.

The competitive nature of the game was underlined when the referee asked for Latics' striker Ryan Brooke to be substituted after he followed up a skirmish with Kevin McDonald by catching Danny Fox late.

And Fox took out his own revenge moments later with a perfect through-ball for Thompson to show exemplary control and his customary cool finish as he steered the ball past Fleming.

Then in a dramatic finish the Clarets grabbed the winner through a less likely source as Cort rose to meet an Alexander free-kick and direct a downward header into the bottom corner of the net.

Burnley (starting): Jensen, Eckersley, Duff, Carlisle, Easton, Marney, Elliott, McCann, Eagles, Rodriguez, Iwelumo.

Burnley (second half) Jensen, Fox, Cort, Bikey, Edgar, Alexander, McDonald, Elliott (Harvey 75), Wallace, Rodriguez (Fletcher 75), Thompson.

Attendance: 2,273 (Burnley 1,038)