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| October 2000 | 2000-2001 Archive Latest News |
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| 31-10-00 | Bigmouth strikes again | Boston Utd (a) | |||
| 26-10-00 | Brewers top the lot | Tamworth (h) | |||
| 21-10-00 | Salisbury routed | Salisbury (h) | |||
| 18-10-00 | Brewers breeze into next round | Tamworth (h) | |||
| 15-10-00 | Held by 10-men Lambs | Tamworth (a) | |||
| 12-10-00 | FA action threat over Adders row | Player row | |||
| 4-10-00 | Lambs revisited | Halesowen (a), Cup draw |
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| Bigmouth
strikes again!
Boston United manager Steve Evans has thrown fuel on what already promises to be a fiery FA Cup replay clash at Eton Park tonight, with some typically outspoken comments about Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Brewers at rain-lashed York Street. Evans, who claimed prior to Saturday's game that Nigel Clough had told him Brewers fans were going to 'take over York Street', compared the Albion side to a 'pub team', and claimed Clough himself should have been red-carded in Saturday's game. |
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| "It shouldn't have gone to a replay because we had enough chances to have had the game sewn up by half time," said the portly Scotsman (pictured above), "We made Burton look like a pub team for 30 minutes but unfortunately a piece of sloppy defending cost us." | ||||
| Boston
had surged into an eight minute lead through former Peterborough United and
Birmingham City striker Ken Charlery, who was gifted time and space
to fire home after Mark Blount made an uncharacteristic hash of his attempt
to clear the ball out of a crowded goalmouth.
But after braving sustained Boston pressure Albion hit back when the tireless running of Dale Anderson down the right flank once again paid dividends. Anderson jinked his way past two defenders before setting up Neil Glasser on the edge of the box, who somehow steered the ball through the crowd scene in the mud-strewn Boston penalty area. |
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| Matt Duke somehow
managed to scramble away an effort from Mark Rawle, and Charlery saw headers
sail high and wide as Boston sought to restore their advantage, but a frantic
first half ended with honours even.
The second half was a much tighter affair, with few clearcut chances for either side, and conditions worsening as heavy rain lashed down upon a mudheap of a pitch. For the Brewers, Dale Anderson was let down by a poor first touch for the Brewers after being played clear through by Darren Stride, while for Boston, Mark Rawle was again denied by Matt Duke, who gave the travelling army the jitters when almost dropping Boston's Paul Wilson lofted a wind-assisted backpass goalwards to concede possession from a drop ball. |
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The
Brewers hung on though to earn tonight's replay at Eton Park, where
they will find a playing surface more suited to their passing game. As for
Clough, he surely will be even more determined than ever to guide his team
through to a trip to Kidderminster Harriers in the First Round proper,
after watching his Boston counterpart plead for the referee to
send him off for allegedly kicking the ball away.
"He (Clough) was already on a yellow card when he kicked the ball away after we'd been awarded a free-kick," said Evans. |
| "In my opinion,
his reputation saved him the red card. He'd spent the whole game no more
than two yards from the ref's side complaining about every decision that
went our way."
In Clough and Evans you couldn't find two managers with more contrasting styles, and the Brewers boss refused to be drawn into a slanging match, telling the Burton Mail: "People who were at the game will draw their own conclusions about what Evans had to say. I thought it was a well contested cup tie with no particularly bad tackles and a referee who did okay." "It was a very hard game and we had to scrap for everything but as underdogs I didn't think we did too bad. I'm delighted for the players we got a decent result because of their effort and commitment and I'm delighted for our fans because the support they gave us was unbelievable." Another big 2,000+ crowd is expected at Eton Park tonight for the latest act of this compelling drama. Steve Evans has already confirmed his role as the villain, let's hope it's a Halloween tale with a happy ending. |
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| Brewers
top the lot
The Brewers blasted their way to the top of the Dr. Martens League table on Tuesday night, making it a hat-trick of wins against local rivals Tamworth in the process.
The Lambs, soundly
beaten at Eton Park in the FA Cup a week earlier, and with a severely weakened
squad, not to mention 'H-bombers' Mark Hallam and Warren Haughton inexplicably
left on the bench, always looked to be on a hiding to nothing, as Albion
once again seized control of the game, taking the lead as early as the ninth
minute. |
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| Striker Phil Starbuck, included in the starting line-up for the first time since back in August, found space in the six-yard bos to head home Terry Henshaw's cross. Mark Turner came close to equalizing for the visitors with a header on 13 minutes, but almost immediately Albion had doubled their advantage. Nigel Clough played a free-kick into the box, and skipper Darren Stride charged in to force the ball past Harvey Willetts, in for the suspended Darren Acton, in the Tamworth goal. |
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The
game was effectively over as a contest on 25 minutes, when Starbuck beat
the flapping Willetts to the ball to head in another Clough free-kick, notching
up his fourth goal in two games, further vindication for Clough's faith in
the ex-Forest striker.
Mark Turner again came close to pulling one back for the Lambs, hitting the post on the half hour mark, but it was the Brewers who looked more like adding to their tally. Good work from Clough set through Dale Anderson, who's shot was tipped round by Willets. Neil Glasser headed David Rennie's shot just wide on 39 minutes, before seeing a 25-yard effort turned round the post by the Tamworth 'keeper a minute later. |
| The threatened
Salisbury-style rout never materialized however, and the Brewers, with minds
on Saturday's FA Cup trip to Boston, took their foot off the gas in an uneventful
second half. Dale Anderson came closest to adding his name to the scoresheet,
hitting the post on 67 minutes, his last significant -contribution before
being withdrawn two minutes later, along with two-goal hero Starbuck, to
a standing ovation.
Some of the gloss was taken off the performace when Brewers 'keeper Matt Duke spilled Darren Grocutt's long range shot, allowing Tamworth substitute Warren Haughton to fire home eight minutes from time. But it scarcely mattered to the home fans in the 1,102 crowd, as another fine night for the Brewers was made even better with the news that leaders Crawley had gone down 2-1 at home to Cambridge City, leaving Albion sitting pretty at the top of the Dr. Martens League table for the first time ever at such an advanced stage of the season. They may well be knocked off it pretty sharpish on Saturday when Crawley can take advantage of Albion's FA Cup distraction, as they take on, of all teams, Tamworth. And that's one match when, for once, the whole of South-East Staffordshire will be hoping for a Lambs victory. |
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Albion
went ahead on 21 minutes when Aaron Webster, cool as ever, fired home
from the penalty spot (see picture below), after Dale Anderson was
brought down in the box, but it wasn't until midway through the second half
that Albion really got going.
Phil Starbuck has battled his way back into first team contention after the injury which kept him out for the whole of last season, and his rising stock value in Nigel Clough's plans was confirmed when he turned in Dale Anderson's cross on 65 minutes - Starbuck's first goal since March 1999. Starbuck almost got his second four minutes later, firing narrowly wide, but the third goal wasn't long in coming. Anderson again the supplier of the cross, from which skipper Darren Stride converted. Anderson deserved a goal for his efforts, and he got one, eight minutes from time, before once again setting up that man Phil Starbuck, to provide the final word, in another throughly convincing display from the Brewers. |
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| Brewers
breeze into next round
The Brewers cruised through to an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round trip to Boston United, after dispatching neighbours Tamworth with considerable aplomb at rain-soaked Eton Park last night. This one might not have had the drama or high-octane excitement of previous clashes with the Lambs this season, but it was easily the Brewers' best performance of the three matches.
From the off,
Albion looked a lot more dangerous upfront than of late, and completely
dominated a first half in which Tamworth's only scoring opportunity of any
note came on seven minutes when Nick Colley fired high and wide over
Matt Duke's goal. |
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| The chances
came as thick and fast as the rain which lashed down on the 1,579 crowd.
David Rennie headed an early opportunity just over the bar, and turned provider
on 13 minutes when his ball into the box was headed straight at Darren Acton
by Albion skipper Darren Stride.
Even goalkeeper Matt Duke got in on the act - his long range punt on 23 minutes almost catching Acton by surprise, but it was the inspirational Dale Anderson who was creating most problems for the visitors defence. Anderson set up strike partner Aaron Webster for a shooting chance on 27 minutes, and soon after embarked on a mazy run through the Lambs defence which deserved a better finish, but it was left until the dying seconds of the first half for the Brewers number 9 to get his name on the scoresheet - when his shot came back off the woodwork into a crowded goalmmouth, Anderson cheekily back-heeled the ball over the line to give his side a more than deserved half time lead. |
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The
Brewers started the second half as they'd ended the first, and had doubled
their advantage within five minutes of the restart. Darren Stride
won an aerial challenge inside the box with 'keeper Acton, and combined with
Clough inside the six-yard box before scrambling the ball home from close
range.
The game was effectively over as a contest on 57 minutes - Darren Stride was hauled down in the box by Lambs defender Paul Hatton, and Aaron Webster confidently fired home from the penalty spot. This was the cue for Tamworth's best spell of the game, and, ironically in the face of Albion's overall superiority, it was the Lambs who got the best goal of the night. Mark Hallam started off a flowing move by breaking down the left flank, and combined with strike partner Warren Haughton to set up substitute Gary Smith, who fired a sweetly struck shot past Duke into the Brewers net. It could have been a tense final 20 minutes had Hallam's 25-yard free-kick been a couple of inches lower, but instead the ball crashed against the Albion crossbar and over. |
| The game fizzled
out somewhat in the dying stages, with Albion content to play out time, but
there were chances for substitute Phil Starbuck, and for Darren Stride, who
could have had a hat trick on the night.
Boston United await in the next round, and a chance for the Brewers to avenge last season's 3-1 league defeat at York Street. 90 minutes away from a place in the First Round proper, but Nigel Clough would surely trade it all in for three points next Tuesday, when Albion have to play Tamworth yet again, this time in the league. Before then, Salisbury City visit Eton Park on Saturday, the Brewers aiming to gain more ground on leaders Crawley Town, who have a tough game against Welling United. |
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| This
one only had two goals rather than the five we enjoyed in the August Bank
Holiday clash, and there was none of the injury time drama of that game.
What we did have though was an absorbing footballing contest, a sending-off,
and a male streaker who, to the relief of most if not all of the 1,456
crowd, kept his boxer shorts on.
Tamworth had the best of the opening exchanges, with Nick Colley flashing a volley just wide, with only three minutes on the clock. Warren Haughton and Mark Turner also had chances for the home side, but as the half wore on the Brewers gradually began to get into the swing of things. Dale Anderson's good work down the left flank set up Darren Stride for a header which came back off the post on 20 minutes, and the woodwork again came to Tamworth's rescue on the half hour, when Aaron Webster's looping header hit the crossbar. |
| And
it was Webster who set up the opening goal, two minutes before half time,
swinging in a free-kick from the left which David Rennie rose to head
home, his first goal since joining the club a month ago.
The second half began at a frantic pace, with Tamworth finding themselves in a 'you thought you had scored' situation, when Warren Haughton fired into the side netting, five minutes after the restart. Ten minutes later and the equalizer arrived for real. A sweeping move out of midfield ended with Rob Mutchell's cross being met with a powerful header into the net from Mark Hallam. |
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| But Tamworth's
hopes of grabbing a winner were dealt a blow soon after when Hallam's 'H-bomber'
compadre Warren Haughton found himself sent-off for a second bookable offence,
after clattering clumsily into Darren Stride.
This upped the temperature in the ground somwehat, with Lambs boss Paul Hendrie making his feelings clear, but light relief was soon on hand with the arrival of our semi-naked interloper, who received the biggest ovation of the day as he was led away by stewards. The Brewers pushed forward increasingly as the clock ticked away, hoping to exploit their advantage in numbers, but despite forcing a series of corners, another goal was not forthcoming for the Brewers and their travelling army, the othwerise dangerous Aaron Webster guilty of slicing their best chance wastefully wide from inside the box. Nigel Clough expressed himself to be 'disappointed' with conceding the lead, and certainly we could do without another game to add to an already busy schedule. There was good news on the league front however, as leaders Crawley Town went down to their second successive defeat, 1-0 at Moor Green. That leaves Albion still only two points behind Crawley, and with a game in hand. Meanwhile even the Brewers' Dr. Martens League rivals have been lining up to praise the Albion's unbeaten start to the season. Ilkeston Town chief Keith Alexander told the Sporting Green, "In the current climate, where everyone is beating each other, staying unbeaten is quite an acheivement." |
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| FA
action threat over Adders row
The Brewers face being dragged before an FA hearing, after becoming embroiled in a new row with Atherstone United, over an alleged illegal player approach. The two clubs have enjoyed a strained relatoinship since the Adders' former manager Ron Bradbury was accused of headbutting Albion secretary Tony Kirkland in a match at Eton Park last season. In the return match the Brewers refused to use the Sheepy Road dressing rooms, and left immediately after the game. The feud looked to have come to and end with the Adders' relegation from the Premier Division last season, but the ill-feeling has now resurfaced, after the Brewers gave a trial to Adders midfielder Nicky Carter, in a friendly match against Rocester a fortnight ago. Carter was a non-contract player for the Adders, but had been a regular first team player since joining the club in the close season, after being released by Nottingham Forest. League rules state that seven-days notice must be given before making an approach for a player, and despite the game only being a friendly, the FA has the power to fine the Brewers up to £300, and can even deduct the club three points. Carter has since been told to leave Sheepy Road, with chairman Ku Akeredolu commenting: "Nicky Carter has now left the club. We found out that he played for Burton Albion without us knowing. We feel that unless this situation is of benefit to our club and the player, that this is totally unacceptable." However, Brewers boss Nigel Clough says the club were unaware Carter was an Adders player. "When he arrived at the ground, we asked if he was registered with another club and he insisted he had signed for no-one." |
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On
the pitch meanwhile, the Brewers go into Saturday's crunch FA Cup clash at
Tamworth (3pm) with their unbeaten record still intact, after earning
a point at Cambridge City on Friday.
Trailing to Adam Wilde's 53rd minute volley, the Brewers pulled off another last gasp equalizer when Aaron Webster (pictured left) headed in Nigel Clough's corner. Chances were at a premium for both sides in front of City's biggest gate of the season, and a well-organised Cambridge side almost snatched all three points when Wilde came close to scoring a second right at the death, but a draw was probably a fair result, as City boss Chris Tovey admitted: |
| "I think it's a good point, but everyone is very disappointed because it was so late in the game that they got their equalizer," said Tovey, "We could have won it at the end, but they are a quality side and I don't think there was anything between the two sides." |
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| Stamford clinched a last minute equalizer to take the game into extra time, but after the game finished all square, former Brewer Darren Acton saved one of the visitors' spot-kciks to help take Tamworth through to face the Brewers for the second time in six weeks. |
| The
Lambs come to Eton Park in the league later this month, and there's also
a Dr. Martens League Cup tie to cram in between the two sides before
Christmas.
Albion progressed through to the Third Qualifying Round with a comfotrable 2-0 defeat of Halesowen Town at the Grove on Saturday. Jason Kavanagh gave the Brewers a first half lead, tapping in Terry Henshaw's cross from the left, and Darren Stride doubled the lead shortly after the break, firing home after Dale Anderson's shot came back off the bar. |
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| Another encouraging
sign for Nigel Clough was the form of 'keeper Matt Duke, who turned in a
confident performance after his nightmare start since joining the Brewers
from Sheffield United.
Next up, Albion are back in league action when they travel to Cambridge City on Friday night (8pm), a match moved to avoid a clash with the England match on Saturday. |
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