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| December 2000 | 2000-2001 Archive Latest News |
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| 28-12-00 | 1 win, 1 draw, Brewers stay top | Merthyr (a)/ Stafford (h) | |||
| 12-12-00 | Brewers back on top | Worcester (h) | |||
| 6-12-00 | Home tie in Trophy | Yeading (h)/ Trophy draw |
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| 1
win, 1 draw, Brewers stay top
Albion emerged from their Boxing Day encounter with neighbours Stafford Rangers still sitting proudly atop the Dr. Martens Premier League, despite being held to a goalless draw at Eton Park. 2,500 fans packed in to see if the Brewers could continue where they left off with Saturday's 5-1 thrashing of Merthyr Tydfil at Penydarren Park, but in a strangely subdued atmosphere the game failed to live up to expectations. Albion had their chances to win the game, especially in the first half, but failed to convert, and lacked the width or pace to break down a determined Rangers side in the second half. |
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| "It was just one
of those games," said Brewers boss Nigel Clough, "We had three or
four good situations and chances and we needed just one of them to go in.
It was a scrappy sort of game, but that's often the case in derbies, even
in the Premiership. We might actually find it easier at their place because
they'll have to come at us a little bit more than they did today."
Luckily, results elsewhere worked in Albion's favour, as the Brewers' nearest challengers Crawley Town and Margate cancelled each other out with an identical scoreline at the Broadfield Stadium, leaving Albion still a point ahead of 'Gate, with one game in hand. The Brewers stormed to victory at Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday, blitzing their hosts with a stunning 5-1 win. Darren Stride started the ball rolling on 11 minutes, heading in Nigel Clough's free-kick, before smashing home a second from 25 yards, 14 minutes later. Things went from bad to worse for the Martyrs five minutes into the second half, as defender Lee Skelly was sent off for handling on the line, and Christian Moore made it 3-0 from the penalty spot. Justin Perry pulled one back for the Welshmen, but it proved to be just a consolation as a second goal from Moore, and one from Dale Anderson completed the rout. The Brewers have the chance to return to winning ways on Saturday but will have a tough task against Cambridge City, who came close to beating Albion in the corresponding game at Milton Road earlier this year (3pm). Then we make the short trip to the New Manor Ground for the first game of 2001, against Ilkeston Town. |
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| Crunch
Christmas for Brewers
Albion begin a busy festive period which could make or break their season, with a long trip to South Wales to take on Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday.
The Brewers maintained
their position at the top of the Dr. Martens Premier Division with a 2-1
win at high-flying Moor Green on Saturday, but with Margate, Crawley and
Moor Green all snapping at their heels, a healthy points hall from the Christmas
and New Year games is essential to keep Nigel Clough's promotion campaign
on track. |
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| Albion will
play in front of their biggest league crowd of the season when Stafford
Rangers make their first visit to Eton Park in five years on Boxing Day
(12 noon), and face another tough test when they host Cambridge City
on Saturday 30th December (3pm). Cambridge looked one of the most impressive
sides Albion have faced in the encounter between the two sides in October,
and traditionally do well on their visits to Eton Park.
On New Year's Day, Albion travel to the New Manor Ground, scene of one of their most humiliating defeats of last season, as they seek to avenge a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Ilkeston Town. The Brewers entertain Newport County on January 6th, followed by a potentially tricky trip to struggling Fisher Athletic, who have surprised Crawley and Margate amongst other this season, on Tuesday 9th January. The Brewers go into the festive period with Aaron Webster the only significant absentee through injury, with midfielder David Rennie likely to return to the fray after recovering from an injured heel. Dale Anderson gashed a shin in Saturday's game at Moor Green, but is expected to be fit for the trip to Merthyr on Saturday. Goalkeeper Matt Duke (pictured top) emerged as the hero from Saturday's game at the Moorlands, where the travelling Brewers support swelled the gate to a season's best of 859. Duke, much maligned earlier in the season for a series of blunders after signing from Sheffield United, has risen in confidence of late, repaying manager Nigel Clough's faith in him. Duke pulled off a stunning penalty save from Adrian Baddams on the stroke of half time, reacting with lightning speed to tip the rebound over the bar, to preserve Albion's half time lead, given to them just moments earlier when Mark Blount headed the Brewers deservedly in front. The lead was doubled on 57 minutes, when the impressive Pat Lyons sent Christian Moore through on 57 minutes. The Brewers striker was upended by 'keeper Andy de Bont, and Moore made no mistake with his penalty. Under probably the worst floodlights in the Dr. Martens League, the referee missed a blatant penalty when Moors defender Steve Pope pushed the ball off the boot of Anderson with his fingertips, and the home side were able to exert their fist significant pressure of the game after Derek Hall pulled one back with a header 15 minutes from time. But the Brewers hung on through an incredible nine minutes of injury time, to claim a victory given even more importance by victories for their nearest challengers Margate and Crawley Town. Neither of those sides show any sign of easing the pressure on the Brewers, which means the glut of games over the Christmas and New Year period could prove significant in the long run. |
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| Brewers
back on top
Albion reclaimed their place at the top of the Dr. Martens Premier Division on Saturday, edging a tight, hard-fought encounter against John Barton's Worcester City by the single goal, as fellow front-runners Margate, Moor Green and Crawley all lost. In difficult conditions with a blustery wind blowing across Eton Park, this was never going to be a classic, but another solid defensive display from the Brewers ensured they picked up another three points.
Barton, who watched
this match from the stand due to his three-match touchline ban, tipped his
former team for the title ahead of this match, and while that remains a distant
prospect, this was another potentially crucial step in the right direction,
on a day when fellow front-runners Margate, Moor Green and Crawley all
lost. |
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| The early stages
were an indication of what was to follow, as Albion huffed and puffed but
struggled to seriously breach the Worcester defences. Disregarding a wayward
shot from Nigel Clough, the Brewers' first serious attack of the game produced
what proved to be the only goal.
Pat Lyons swung in a cross from the left, Darren Stride headed the ball back across goal, and Phil Starbuck nodded home a header which former Halesowen 'keeper Danny McDonnell could only push into his own net. Christian Moore alsmot made it 2-0 just before half time with a long-range effort which whistled past the Worcester post, while at the other end Mark Owen - Albion's transfer-target of last season and a largely anonymous figure in this game, shot into the side netting. |
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Dale
Anderson had an early chance after the restart, latching onto Clough's pass
before firing over the bar, but the Brewers were content to sit back and
soak up Worcester pressure, which they did for the best part of the second
half.
With the central defensive duo of Blount and Wassall as impressive as ever, the few chances which did get through were comfortably dealt with by Brewers 'keeper Matt Duke. Apart from holding Nathan Jukes' shot from distance on the hour mark, Duke dealt confidently with all the crosses which came his way, and looked a different 'keeper to the one who caused such jitters when he first arrived at the club. |
| The latter
stages were marred by the growing ineptitude of the match officials, but
nothing could spoil the fact that Albion had come through another tough test.
It wasn't pretty, but it was the kind of result we have to grind out if the
promotion push is to stay on course, as the Brewers boss acknowledged
after tha match:
"It was a horrible 1-0," Clough told the Burton Mail, "But they're the ones that win championships as Arsenal have proved in the past. We want to be playing lovely, attractive football, but it's not like that sometimes, especially against strong sides like Worcester who primarily came looking for a point. It was a massive win for us in it's own right and the way the other games went made it even better." The tough games keep on coming. This Saturday Albion travel to Moor Green, the surprise package of the Premier Division since being promoted last season. A long trip to South Wales to face Merthyr Tydfil the following Saturday concludes the pre-Christmas fixtures, ahead of the big Boxing Day clash with Stafford Rangers at Eton Park, a match with a 12 noon kick-off. |
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| Brewers
boss Nigel Clough was pleased with the draw, saying:"It won't be
the easiest of games but with our record in cup draws it's a relief to be
at home. It will be an attractive game which should pull in quite a decent
crowd."
Albion cruised through to the Third Round with a 4-1 defeat of Ryman Division One side Yeading at Eton Park on Saturday, where the Brewers' lowest home crowd of the season - 784 - saw striker Christian Moore mark his return to the senior first team ranks with a hat-trick. After an uninspiring first half, Moore broke the deadlock on 52 minutes, following up the rebound after visitors 'keeper Jim Bannatyne parried his penalty, after Dale Anderson was felled in the box. The lead though lasted only five minutes as Terry Henshaw sliced Stuart Lake's free-kick into his own net. |
| It
took until the 72nd minute for the Brewers to regain their lead, Pat
Lyons latching onto Neil Glasser's incisive pass to slot home, and two
further goals from Moore on 74 and 81 minutes completed the scoring.
Albion are back in league action this Saturday when John Barton's Worcester City visit Eton Park (3pm). Meanwhile in off-the-field news, three men were detained and cautioned by police for public order offences and being drunk and disorderly after the Brewers' Christmas party at the Chicago Rock Cafe in Burton on Saturday night. |
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| According
to a rather mysterious article in Monday's Burton Mail, the incident
happened in the early hours of Sunday morning, after a woman was allegedly
elbowed in the face. No details have been released as to the identity of
the three men, but Brewers chairman Ben Robinson issued the following,
oblique statement:
"As far as the club is concerned, if any one of the players' private lives affects their position as a player we will take appropriate action." |
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