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| November 2000 | 2000-2001 Archive Latest News |
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| 30-11-00 | 'End of the Cup road' | Kidderminster (h) | |||
| 19-11-00 | 'Another bite at the cherry' | Kidderminster (a) | |||
| 12-11-00 | 'Flood defences breached' | Clevedon (h) | |||
| 5-11-00 | 'Bath pull the plug' | Bath City (a) | |||
| 1-11-00 | 'Pub team' call time on Pilgrims' | Boston Utd (h) |
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| End
of the Cup road
The Brewers' dreams of a possible place in the FA Cup Third Round ended on Tuesday night as a stirring late rally against Kidderminster Harriers could not rescue a game put beyond them by a disastorous spell midway through the first half. Albion gave themselves a near-impossible task after conceding three goals inside ten minutes, and although late goals from Mark Blount and Darren Wassall raised hopes of a famous fightback, Tony Bird's injury time clincher for Harriers meant the majority of the 3,760 crowd went hope disappointed.
With queues stretching
twice the length of the car park and back as far as Barley Close, the game
surprisingly was allowed to go ahead on schedule under referee's orders,
and the turnstiles were still clicking when Dale Anderson almost gave Albion
a dream start, heading Aaron Webster's corner against the top of the crossbar
inside the first minute. |
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| But having
survived that fright the visitors' Football League class began to tell
as Kiddy imposed themselves on the game in convincing fashion. After a few
near misses and a near-own goal from Mark Blount, the visitors took the lead
on 24 minutes, when Ian Bogie floated a perfectly flighted lob over
Matt Duke and into the net, with 24 minutes on the clock.
Three minutes later, and it was 2-0, a swift Kiddy breakaway saw Andy Ducros charge forward from deep before setting up Stewart Hadley, who fired home a shot deflected off the foot of Mark Blount. And the same man struck what seemed certain to be the killer blow ten minutes before half time, heading in Ian Clarkson's cross to leave the home crowd stunned. Only some fine goalkeeping from Matt Duke prevented an even more embarassing margin, and in the event Albion were glad to hear the half time whistle. However, just as against Boston United in the previous round, the Brewers came out a revitalized side in the second half, and began to really test the Harriers defence for the first time. |
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Their
hard work looked to be going unrewarded until Mark Blount scored from
close range after Anderson had touched on Clough's ball into the area, 20
minutes from time. Surely they couldn't come back from this, could they?
Well it looked like they just might when, six minutes from the end, Darren
Wassall arrived in the six yard box to head home a Christian Moore cross
- perfect timing for Wassall to notch his first goal for the
Brewers.
With the crowd now roaring them on, Albion threw men forward in search of the goal which would force an unlikely period of extra time, but couldn't force a way through. The two minutes time added on had just been announced when substitute Tony Bird found his way into the Brewers box to kill off their hopes once and for all. |
| In some ways
perhaps a blessing in disguise, bearing in mind the re-arranged league fixtures
beginning to pile up at an increasing rate, but defeat was not made any sweeter
with the revalation that, had they gone through, the Brewers would have enjoyed
national exposure as one of the featured games on Match of the
Day.
It would be good to be able to bounce straight back into league action on Saturday, but instead there's yet more cup action as the Brewers begin their FA Umbro Trophy campaign at Eton Park against Ryman Division One side Yeading. Few supporters would be overly concerned to see us exit this competition, but that will certainly not be Nigel Clough's view, and he'll be looking for a swift return to winning ways from his team, to get Tuesday's defeat, and in particular that first half capitulation, well and truly out of their system. |
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| Kiddy
will be disappointed not to have killed the game off on their own turf, but
will be hoping to exploit the open spaces offfered by what is sure to be
a more attacking Albion side in the replay.
The introduction of Aaron Webster into the starting line-up was the only change from last week's victory over Clevedon Town, while Phil Starbuck reprised the midfield role he filled in Tuesday's Dr. Martens League Cup defeat at Tamworth. Albion had an early scare when Kiddy midfielder Dean Bennett found himself in a shooting position inside the Brewers' box but Darren Wassall took advantage of Bennett's hesitation to clear the ball to safety. Then 'keeper Matt Duke watched in horror as his attempted clearance came back off the onrushing Kiddy attacker and landed at the feet of former Welsh International Barry Horne inside the six yard box, but a linesman's flag spared Duke's blushes. Soon though Albion began to attack with more confidence. Dale Anderson's run at the Kiddy defence ended with him being tripped on the edge of the box by defender Scott Stamps, but Webster's free kick deflected off Horne and over. Anderson was causing problems down the right flank and it was via this route that the striker delivered probably the Brewers' best scoring chance of the game, squaring the ball to Clough in space on the edge of the box, but the Brewers' player-boss, not noted for his sharp-shooting, blasted a first time effort well over the bar. |
| It
was end to end stuff at this stage, with both sides creating chances but
neither able to convert them. Harriers No. 6 Adie Smith headed a ball in
from former Nuneaton Borough man Andy Ducros over the Burton bar on 26 minutes,
and soon after Matt Duke had his first save to make as the home side's first
corner of the game was cleared only as far as Horne, who's shot was well
saved by the Albion 'keeper.
Dale Anderson again tested the Kiddy defence after being set free by Darren Stride down the right and a mazy run from Neil Glasser down the other flank eventually came to nothing as Albion continued to give as good as they got, but the second half saw the Brewers content to sit back and soak up the home pressure, in a half of few chances at either end. |
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| Dale Anderson
was caught in an offside position after being sent clear through by Webster
on 58 minutes, but apart from a briefly threatening run into the box from
Phil Starbuck most of the action was taking place in the Brewers half, as
Kiddy found their attacking ambitions frustrated by a Brewers defence marshalled
by the superb Darran Wassall.
Wassall was no doubt keen to impress with his father Brendan, a former Harriers legend, watching from the stands, and with his head bandaged following a first half clash of heads which left Kiddy's Dean Bennett requiring 10 stitches, was a lionheart figure at the heart of the Albion back four. So well did Albion cope with everything Harriers could throw at them that it wasn't until the last five minutes that their goal looked in serious danger, as the home side forced a succession of corners. It was heart in the mouth time for the travelling fans as first Duke had to scramble away Ian Foster's low shot, then the Albion No. 1 turned Andy Ducros' shot onto the post, and finally Mark Shail's shot from inside the box was hacked off the line. After such tension, the final whistle came as blessed relief, and the result was received almost as well as a victory, as the Brewers did enough to bring Cup opposition back to Eton Park for the third round in succession. Tamworth and Boston United have fallen this way, and the scalp of Kidderminster Harriers would complete a hat-trick of memorable Cup nights at Eton Park, in a season in which we're supposed to be concentrating on the league! There was also good news on that front on Saturday, as the Brewers returned to the top of the Dr. Martens League table, without even playing a game! Crawley Town, the Brewers opponents in next week's crucial top-of-the-table clash, went down 3-2 at Bath City, seeing them drop behind the Brewers on goal difference, while Margate's 3-2 win over Merthyr sees them move ominously to within a point of the Brewers and Crawley. Meanwhile the Kidderminster replay details have already been announced. The match, to be played at Eton Park next Tuesday (28th November) will not be all ticket, but segregation will be in place. Away fans have been allocated the Derby Road End terrace. For full details, see the Burton Albion Official Website... |
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| After
a nervous mix-up between Brewers defender Mark Blount and 'keeper Matt Duke
early on, Albion wasted no time in setting up camp in the Clevedon half.
Neil Glasser set up Clough for a shot which went well over on 11 minutes,
and soon after a surging run out of midfield by Jason Kavanagh saw the
full-back's shot come back off former Bath City 'keeper Mark Hervin, but
Darren Stride couldn't bury the rebound.
Pat Lyons, in for the injured David Rennie, saw a 20-yard effort go wide, and a Clevedon defender was forced to clear over his own crossbar after Phil Starbuck turned Dale Anderson's cross goalwards. Having lost their way a little towards the end of the half, Albion came closest to breaking the deadlock in first half injury time. Kavanagh's ball in found Stride well positioned inside the box, but the Brewers skipper couldn't find a clean strike, and Hervin pushed the ball around the post. |
| A
hitherto unadventurous Clevedon had their best attacking spell in the opening
minutes of the second half. Former Gloucester City man Andy Mainwaring glanced
a header wide a minute after the restart, and two minutes later Duke had
to get down well to push a deflected free-kick round the post.
Pretty soon things had returned to normal though, and if anything the Brewers stepped up a gear in the second half. Dale Anderson broke down the right and swung in a cross for Pat Lyons on 53 minutes, but Lyons' header sailed just wide of the post. |
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| Soon after,
a defence splitting pass from Nigel Clough saw Anderson once again involved,
this time supplying Phil Starbuck, who's first time shot was saved by Hervin.
A goal was beginning to look imminent, but Albion had two penalty appeals
turned down - the first looked like a handball from the Clevedon defender,
the second saw Phil Starbuck upended in the box, but both times referee Mr
Scarr remained unmoved.
Starbuck went close with an overhead kick, before making way as substitutes Aaron Webster, and Christian Moore - making his first home appearance of the campaign - were thrown into the fray, as the Brewers pushed for that all-important winner. It looked as though they'd have to settle for a point when Stride headed over from Clough's cross on the stroke of full time, but in the end Clevedon's time wasting tactics returned to haunt them, as four minutes into time added on, the goal the 1,021 crowd had been waiting for finally arrived. Jason Kavanagh rushed to take a free-kick launched into the Clevedon box, the visitors cleared only as far as Nigel Clough, and to the delight of the fans, Clough's delicately floated ball back into the box saw Darren Stride jump eel-like to nod home past the despairing Hervin. That was virtually the last act of the game, and the final whistle saw Clevedon's players surround the referee in protest. What they were protesting about was not clear, but few had much sympathy for them. The chant of 'we are top of the league' at the end proved premature, as Crawley Town's 2-2 draw at home to Stafford was enough to keep them top on goals scored, although it's worth noting that, as Albion were clinching another dramatic last gasp winner, Crawley were missing the penalty which would have handed them all three points. It's all set up very nicely for the crunch top of the table clash at Broadfield Stadium a week on Saturday. |
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| Albion
rallied well and threatened to find the equalizer, Darren Stride having a
shot tipped onto the post by Bibbo, who also denied Nigel Clough, the Brewers
boss also having a goal disallowed after Stride was penalized for
pushing.
The scoreline remained at 1-0 at half time, and six minutes into the second half, Bath had doubled their advantage, when Scott Walker beat Duke all ends up with a stunning shot from 20 yards. Albion briefly threatened to claw their way back into the game when Mark Blount found an instant response, heading in Clough's corner, but ten minutes later the game was put beyond reach when a corner at the other end, taken by Jimmy Fraser, was headed in by Martin Paul. |
| So,
for the first time since last season's home reversal to Halesowen Town on
Easter Monday, Albion experience the bitter taste of defeat in competitive
action. It had to happen eventually, and this result should act as a warning
to all concerned, if anyone ever doubted it, that the Brewers are going to
have to fight every step of the way if they want to stay in the title
fight.
Tuesday night's trip to bottom side Fisher Athletic now takes on even more importance, with Albion needing to make the most of their one remaining game in hand over leaders Crawley Town, whom they still trail by two points. |
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| 'Pub
team' call time on Pilgrims
Buoyant Burton Albion battled their way through to the FA Cup First Round for the third successive season, coming from behind to dump Boston United out of the competition, in front of a season's best 2,299 crowd at Eton Park on Tuesday night. The pre-match comments of Steve Evans, who compared Albion to a 'pub team', returned to haunt the Boston manager, as his side crumbled under a stunning second half display from Nigel Clough's men, on a night of Cup football that will live long in the memory.
A nervy first half
performance saw the Brewers go behind on 17 minutes, when Ken Charlery
swooped to fire home the rebound after Matt Duke could only parry Paul Wilson's
shot. Duke had to produce a fine save to deny Wilson's free-kick soon after,
Charlery came close to adding a second with a header, and apart from a long
range effort from Nigel Clough, Albion had precious little to show for the
first 45 minutes. |
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| A swift change
in gear was needed if the Brewers, and the game were going to get out of
the rut they were in, and that's exactly what we got, as a transformed Albion
took the game to the Conference side with newborn vigour after the
break.
The catalyst came 14 minutes into the second half. Jason Kavanagh had pushed forward from his full-back position, and when his ball to Anderson resulted in the Brewers striker being chopped down by Pilgrims defender Tim Wooding, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Phil Starbuck's spot-kick low to Paul Bastock's left found the net via the keeper's legs. Game on. |
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Ten
minutes later, it was 2-1. Pat Lyons swung in a corner from the right, Bastock
could only punch Blount's header out as far as Neil Glasser, and the midfielder's
driven shot was touched past the despairing Bastock by Phil Starbuck - six
goals in four games for the revitalized striker.
The crowd was well and truly buzzing now, but the best was still to come. With 12 minutes left on the clock, the oft-maligned Pat Lyons, in for the injured David Rennie, capped an impressive display by producing the killer pass which split the Boston defence, and Dale Anderson (left) raced towards the Boston penalty area before keeping his nerve to slot home goal number three - cue delirium on the terraces. |
| Boston were
beaten, and when Charlery pulled one back for the visitors three minutes
from the end, heading in Richard Lucas' corner, it was more like the final
convulsion of a dying man than a serious attempt at resuscitating Boston's
flagging Cup hopes.
A night of shame for the Pilgrims was completed with the sending off of Paul Wilson for a second bookable offence, and a minor touchline scuffle involving the ubiquitous Evans, who left the field with the words 'You'll never beat the pub team' ringing in his ears. A lesson learned perhaps for the Scotsman who produces more hot air than your average flatulent heffer - Nigel Clough's teams do their talking on the pitch. |
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