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| September 2000 | 2000-2001 Archive Latest News |
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| 24-9-00 | Give us a striker! | Dorchester (h) | |||
| 20-9-00 | Duke blunder costs Albion | King's Lynn (a) | |||
| 16-9-00 | Wings hold top spot | Welling (h) | |||
| 16-9-00 | Got any Rennie? | New signing | |||
| 12-9-00 | Storm over Margate | Margate (a) | |||
| 8-9-00 | Brewers sign Blades 'keeper | New signing | |||
| 6-9-00 | Brewers too strong for Yeltz | Halesowen (a) | |||
| 3-9-00 | Albion leave it late again | Merthyr (h) |
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| For the Brewers, this was another potentially costly two points dropped, and just as worrying as their lack of strike power was the form of 'keeper Matt Duke, who was again at fault for the visitors' goal. |
| Another
onslaught on the Dorchester goal looked in prospect when Nigel Clough ghosted
a free-kick just over the Magpies' bar just two minutes into the game, and
the Brewers continued to create their fair share of chances.
Darren Stride and David Rennie both came close with headers, before the opening goal arrived on 19 minutes. Jason Kavanagh combined well with Stride, and the Brewers' skipper's shot was deflected away for a corner. Neil Glasser swung the cross in, and Jason Kavanagh's close-range header crept over the line off Magpies' keeper Vince Matassa. |
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| Dorchester
almost found an instant response, rattling Matt Duke's left hand crossbar,
before the equalizer did arrive just past the half hour mark. Matty Holmes
swung in a corner from the Magpies' right, and the Brewers 'keeper's weak
attempt at punching clear allowed Andy Harris to nod home.
The second half was a frustrating experience for another 1,000+ Eton Park crowd, as the Brewers huffed and puffed but couldn't find a way through to goal. |
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Albion
looked to be defending too deep, and no amount of tireless running from Dale
Anderson could make up for the lack of a strike-partner for him to play
off.
Nigel Clough came closest to restoring the lead, heading over from close range, and seeing a goal-bound shot saved by Matassa. David Rennie fired over, and as the Brewers, bolstered by the introduction of substitute Aaron Webster, forced a succession of late corners, the Magpies' 'keeper also had to be on his best form to block a Dale Anderson header. |
| Some 200 miles
away in Kent David Holmes had done his best to help the Brewers'
cause, scoring on his debut as he began a month's loan spell with Ilkeston
Town, who inflicted a second successive defeat on Premier Division
pacesetters Welling United at Park View Road.
But with record signing Christian Moore expected to be out of action for another six weeks for a knee operation, there's a growing feeling amongst the supporters that the club need's to import rather than export a striker, if the title bid is to remain on course. |
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| Duke
blunder costs Albion
For the second game running, an own-goal blunder from new 'keeper Matt Duke cost Albion three points, as the Brewers played out a 1-1 draw with King's Lynn for the second time this season, at the Walks Stadium last night.
On the bright side,
Welling's shock 5-0 reversal at Margate means the Brewers now have the
only unbeaten record in the league, but that will be little consolation to
Nigel Clough, who's side missed out on the chance to top the table once
again. |
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| In damp,
drizzly conditions, the game got underway with Albion facing former
team-mate Anton Thomas (below left), who this week made his
loan move to the Walks permanent, but neither 'keeper had too much to do
in the early stages. On the half hour Wright floated a cross-shot in from
the right which flew just over the Burton bar, but it was the Brewers who
took the lead five minutes before the interval.
David Rennie broke down the right hand side and launched a cross only partially cleared by the Lynn defence. The ball fell to Darren Stride on the edge of the box, and the Brewers' skipper crashed it into the roof of the net first time, leaving Chuck Martini with no chance. |
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Albion
could have made it 2-0 before half-time, when a mix-up between Dave Robinson
and Martini let in Nigel Clough, with the Lynn 'keeper's clearance riccocheting
back off the onrushing Brewers boss and just over.
A minute later however, disaster struck. With half time just seconds away, Dakin's cross from the right should have been easily held by Matt Duke, but the Brewers' 'keeper, with not a striker anywhere near him, let the ball slip tamely through his grasp and over the line, despite a frantic attempt to clear it from Mark Blount. Duke had an early attempt to steady his nerves after the break, getting down to comfortably hold Lyndon Rowland's shot, but most of the second half chances came at the other end of the field. |
| The best chance
for the Brewers came just past the hour. Mark Blount crashed a header
against the bar from Nigel Clough's free-kick into the box, and the ball
was scrambled away for a corner, which sailed threateningly across the face
of goal. Soon after Dale Anderson did well to shake off the Lynn defenders
on the left flank before playing the ball in from the byline, but again there
was no-one there to get the decisive touch which would have carried it over
the line.
Lynn had a few chances of their own in the latter stages - Anton Thomas set up Emeka Nwadike on 73 minutes, but the Swad-based midfielder fired well over the bar, and soon after Thomas himself saw a shot sail just wide of the far post. Lynn had the ball in the net 15 minutes from time but the roar of the home fans was soon silenced by the referee's whistle, apparently for handball. Favourable results elsewhere mean that this is by no means a disastorous result for the Brewers, but the form of their new 'keeper will be of prime concern in the matches to come. Another possible worry is the lack of strikepower in the team, with Dale Anderson looking isolated at times after again being left to plough a lone furrow upfront. Next up it's Dorchester Town at Eton Park on Saturday (3pm), with the Brewers aiming to stack up some more points before their two-week break from league action. |
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| Albion
included debutant David Rennie, who's £2,000 signing from Boston
United was completed this morning, in a midfield role, in place of Neil Glasser,
who was absent with a calf strain.
After soaking up some early Albion pressure, Welling looked more dangerous as the half wore on, with Darren Wassall having to block a shot from Glover, and Duke tipping Anthiny Riviere's free-kick over the bar, but it was the Brewers who came closest to breaking the deadlock. |
| Welling
'keeper Glen Knight came too far out of his goal on 36 minutes, his mistimed
attempt at claiming Blount's throw-in ending with the ball sailing over his
head, before being scrambled away off the line by a Wings' defender. And
four minutes later the Brewers spurned a golden opportunity to take a half
time lead.
Dale Anderson was tripped from behind in the box by Chapman (see picture above), but Knight guessed the right way and dived full length to tip Aaron Webster's penalty around his left hand post. |
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| The opening goal came four minutes into the second half, Jason Kavanagh on the right shrugged off the attentions of his marker before pulling the ball back from the byline to Nigel Clough, who fired home from the edge of the box. But the delight of the home fans was short lived, as Welling went down the other end and won a corner straight from the kick-off. Glover swung in a corner, and the under pressure Duke let the ball slip through his grasp and into the net. |
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Back
to square one, but Albion continued to create chances, as they searched for
one of those dramatic late winners which we've seen so often this season.
Darren Stride had a goal-bound shot blocked at close range by the Welling defender eight minutes from the end, and Nigel Clough shot over the bar from Davies' cross five minutes later. |
| There was still
time for Terry Henshaw to fire into the side netting (left), and a
spawny injury time corner, awarded in spite of the ball having appeared
to come off Kavanagh, came to nothing, as the game ended all-square.
So, that coveted top spot remains elusive for the Brewers, for now at least. A draw against undoubtedly the best side the Brewers have faced this season is not to be sniffed at, and Tuesday's trip to King's Lynn offers another chance to stockpile the points Albion need to keep up with today's opponents, and Crawley Town, who's 5-1 hammering of Salisbury City sees them overtake the Brewers in second position. |
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| Got
any Rennie?
Brewers boss Nigel Clough was hopeful of unveiling another new signing - thought to be Boston United midfielder David Rennie - before today's crunch top-of-the-table clash with Welling United at Eton Park (3pm). Clough told the Burton Mail there was an 'outside chance' that the paperwork would be completed in time for the new arrival to join the squad: "Initially we spoke to a Conference club about taking the player on loan, but now we're thinking more in terms of a deal for the remainder of the season," he said. |
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| The signing
of Rennie, if indeed it his him, will add further Football League experience
to a Brewers' defence which can already call upon the likes of Darren Wassall,
Jason Kavanagh and Michael Forsyth. 36-year old Rennie (pictured)
has made more than 400 league appearances, numbering Leicester City, Leeds
United, Birmingham City and Coventry City amongst his former clubs.
Rennie also knows what it takes to win the Dr. Martens League title, having won a championship medal with the Pilgrims, whom he joined from Peterborough United, last season. |
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With
all these new arrivals, it's perhaps no surprise that young defender Danny
George (left) has made his move to Dr. Martens Western Division
side Hinckley United permanent. George arrived at Eton Park at the start
of last season from Doncaster Rovers, and looked impressive in early season,
before losing his place with the arrival of Michael Forsyth. He has been
on loan at the Leicestershire side since the start of the season.
The Brewers had a number of injury doubts ahead of today's game, with Jason Kavanagh the major worry, suffering from a stomach bug. Nigel Clough has a cold, and striker Aaron Webster has been suffering from a blistered heel, but both are hopeful of making the starting line-up, for the biggest game of the season so far. |
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| Crosby
told the Burton Mail: "Last season I shook hands with him (Kinnear)
because they beat us both times and it was the right thing to do. This time
I didn't bother because we wanted to get away as quickly as possible and
I headed straight for the dressing room.
"The next thing he kicked the ball. I wouldn't have minded if it had hit me on the back of the head but I took it full in the face and I wasn't having any of that." The Albion party left the ground immediately after changing, in protest at the fact that a guest of chairman Ben Robinson had been made to pay at the turnstile, prompting an outspoken Chris Kinnear to brand Albion as "conceited and arrogant." "They've done it with a lot of clubs," claimed Kinnear, "At Atherstone last year they turned up ten minutes before the game and left straight afterwards... They think they should be playing against the likes of Rushden and Kingstonian and seem to treat a lot of other sides with contempt." |
| Kinnear
had watched his side thoroughly beaten, in a performance which must go down
as the Brewers' best of the season, at a ground they've always struggled
at in the past.
They were ahead as early as the 18th minute when Dale Anderson latched onto a stray back header from 'Gate defender Bill Edwards, before rounding home 'keeper Lee Turner. And Anderson turned provider for the Brewers' second on 35 minutes, leaving the Margate defence for dead down the right flank before swinging in a perfectly flighted cross for Jason Kavanagh to head home his second goal in as many games - he's now doubled his career scoring total in the space of five days! |
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| Margate had
'keeper Turner to thank for keeping the half time tally down, as he saved
Aaron Webster's goalbound header, whilst at the other end the Brewers' debutant
'keeper Matt Duke had one notable save to make, from a lob from Mark
Munday.
The home side pushed forward in search of an equalizer after the break, but the Brewers defence looked more secure than ever, and Albion always looked threatening on the counter-attack, kicking down a slope which makes the pitch at the Moat Ground look like a crown bowling green! The game was over as a contest with the third goal on 77 minutes. The inspirational Dale Anderson found Aaron Webster on the left, and he in turn fed Nigel Clough on the edge of the box, to curl the ball into the far corner of the net, before accepting the acclaim of the travelling fans. Margate pulled one back five minutes later with a deflected shot from substitute Mo Takalogabashi, but that mattered little as a fifth win in a row carried the Brewers up to second place in the table, leaving Saturday's mouthwatering top of the table clash with Welling United perfectly poised. |
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| Brewers
sign Blades 'keeper
The Brewers' search for a new goalkeeper is over, with Nigel Clough clinching the signature of 23-year old Matt Duke from Sheffield United. Duke (pictured right) has signed a two-year contract at Eton Park, after being released by the Blades' former Albion boss Neil Warnock, and goes straight into the squad for tomorrow's (Saturday) trip to Margate. Albion have been searching for some time for a player to provide competition for veteran 'keeper Nick Goodwin, having reportedly made a series of bids for Grantham Town's highly-rated No. 1 Mario Ziccardi. |
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| Sheffield-born Duke joined his boyhood heroes at the start of last season from Alfreton Town, and has also played for the Brewers' old adversaries Matlock Town. The 6ft 5in 'keeper is described by the Sheffield United's official site as 'an imposing figure', and an 'excellent communicator at the back'. He also apparently 'possesses a huge kick' and is a 'competent shot stopper' - just the kind of qualities we need in a long-term replacement for Goodwin. |
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"It
is no reflection on Nick Goodwin," commented Clough on his new signing,
"In every outfield position we have created competition and options for
ourselves and now we've done the same with the goalkeeper." According
to today's Burton Mail, Clough has also made enquiries about two more,
unnamed players.
Albion wil be without Michael Forsyth and Christian Moore in their squad for the tough trip to Hartsdown Park. Forsyth is unavailable to play, while Moore sustained a knee injury in a reserves match at Hednesford in midweek. As well as Duke, the BrewersNet-sponsored Liam Walshe (left), signed from Gresley in the close season, is also drafted into the squad for the first time. |
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| Brewers
too strong for Yeltz
The Brewers had to endure a nervy last few minutes at the Grove last night, before claiming their fourth successive victory, and moving into third place in the table, at the expense of 'crisis club' Halesowen Town. The result looked to have been put beyond any doubt when Jason Kavanagh struck his first goal for the club since his summer transfer from Cambridge United on 85 minutes, but a bizzare own-goal by Mark Blount handed the embattled Black Country side a lifeline, and meant the Brewers were left having to play out a mammoth eight minutes of stoppage time. Quite where all the added time came from was a mystery, but by that stage the Brewers could have been in front by a much greater margin, against a rudderless Halesowen team under the temporary charge of caretaker boss Alan Moore, thrown into the fray after manager John Chambers announced his resignation at the weekend. |
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| Albion looked
a class apart from the outset, and the only surprise to come out of the first
half was that the Brewers hadn't managed to find net, given the amount of
misplaced passes and sliced clearances they were being gifted by a Yeltz
defence rattled by their swift running of Anderson and Webster, and the midfield
harrying of Stride and Glasser.
Their best chances came towards the end of the half, with Darren Stride's powerful header from Webster's cross rattling the crossbar, and Nigel Clough scuffing his close range shot from Kavanagh's pass. |
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A
goal looked increasingly likely as the game wore on, and it arrived nine
minutes into the second half. Dale Anderson's shot on goal was tipped over
by former Hereford United 'keeper Andy Quy, and from the resulting corner,
swung in by Webster, Darren Stride rose above the defence to head
home.
Albion pushed forward, looking to add to their tally, with Aaron Webster jinking through the defence before shooting over on the hour mark, but the Brewers were caught napping by a Halesowen counter-attack on 70 minutes. Yeltz No. 9 Michael Griffiths was involved in a tussle with Mark Blount, in which the striker (initially at least) looked to be tugging on Blount's shirt. Griffiths went down, the referee awarded a free-kick, but to the dismay of the home fans baying for Blount's blood, left his cards in his pocket, and the free-kick came to nought. |
| Halesowen,
with just one point to their name this season, stepped up their search
for an equalizer, with substitute Stuart Payne forcing Nick Goodwin to make
probably his only save of the game, but the killer blow arrived five minutes
from time. Dale Anderson forced his way through down the right flank before
setting up Jason Kavanagh, eight yards out, to fire a right foot shot
past Quy.
Albion introduced three strikers into the fray, including Christian Moore, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury. But when Mark Blount's misjudged back pass sailed over Nick Goodwin and into his own net, Albion found themselves on the backfoot as the home side searched desperately, and in the end fruitlessly, for an equalizer. The freak own-goal aside, this was a comfortable victory for the Brewers, and one which continues their ascent of the Dr. Martens League, moving them into third place behind Crawley and Welling United, who come to Eton Park a week on Saturday. Before then of course, in true Chas 'n' Dave fashion it's 'Down to Margate' on Saturday for a weekend of sun, sand, and hopefully another three points! |
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| Merthyr,
who, like the Brewers, came into this match unbeaten, are famed for their
aerial prowess, but a Burton backline including the returning Darren Wassall
coped admirably with the likes of giant central defender turned striker Gareth
Abraham, and prevented the Martyrs adding to their tally of 12 goals in their
previous four games this season. Wassell's return from injury meant a move
into a midfield berth for Jason Kavanagh, who took the place of the injured
Pat Lyons.
It wasn't an attractive match to watch, with Mark Blount's low shot from outside the box on 5 minutes, tipped round the post by Martyrs 'keeper Neil Thomas, one of very few scoring chances of a dour first half. However, the fact the Brewers continue to grind out results against a tough, battling side like Merthyr, bodes well for the rest of the season. |
| The
goal was a long time in coming though. Jason Kavanagh had brought a save
out of Thomas after having a penalty appeal dismissed early in the second
half, and Dale Anderson took too long to cross after jinking through the
Martyrs defence soon after, but it was their player-manager who looked most
like finding a way through to goal for the Brewers, with three near things
inside ten minutes.
Back to his influential best at the heart of midfield, and having also seemingly sharpened up his shooting since last season, Clough's wicked free-kick hit the Merthyr wall and deflected over on 68 minutes, five minutes later he forced his way into the Merthyr box before drilling the ball across the face of goal, and another Clough free-kick from distance brought a save out of Thomas. |
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| With time ticking
away, Albion pushed harder for a goal, with David Holmes being brought on
to add an extra dimension upfront. Darren Stride poked a shot wide, and Aaron
Webster had a header turned round, before the deadlock was finally broken,
four minutes from the end.
Webster's corner from the right ended up with Blount, who's shot (see picture above) caused a melee in the Merthyr area, and Dale Anderson forced his way into the six-yard box to drill the ball home, to the delight of the fans. The goal sparked an ugly confrontation which Martyrs defender Lee Baddely was at the heart of, and there was still time for some heart-in-the-mouth action at the other end of the field, with Mark Blount desperately turning the ball over via his own crossbar. The result sees Albion move up one place to fourth, two points adrift of leaders Welling United, who come to Eton Park in a fortnight's time. Before then the Brewers have a trip to Halesowen Town to cram in this Tuesday night (7.45pm), before Saturday's long trek to Margate, as the games continue to come thick and fast. |
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