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| January 2001 | 2000-2001 Archive Latest News |
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| 27-1-01 | More points down the plughole | Bath City (h) | |||
| 24-1-01 | Title doubts start to creep in | Cambridge City (h) | |||
| 16-1-01 | Trouble mars Trophy win | Bishop Auckland (h) | |||
| 10-1-01 | Brewers back on top | Fisher Athletic (a) | |||
| 9-1-01 | Back to winning ways | Newport County (h) | |||
| 2-1-01 | Robins knock Brewers off perch | Ilkeston (a) |
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| More
points down (Bath) plughole
A second half as incident-packed as the first half was dismal, four goals, a sending-off, a spot of bare-knuckle fighting, and at the end of the day, more disappointment as the Brewers' title challenge continued to falter, a 2-2 draw against Bath City completing an underwhelming record of two points from a possible six in their last two home games. Nigel Clough returned to the starting line-up after missing the last two games due to a knee injury, but even the return of their influential player-manager couldn't shake the Brewers out of the worryingly lacklustre form which has seen them stumble to three straight league draws since the 4-0 hammering of Fisher Athletic nearly three weeks ago.
In fact, the first
half performance was probably the Brewers' worst of the season. Disinterested,
unimaginative and ineffective against a Bath City side with more height,
more width and more creativity than they. |
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| A shot wide
from Dale Anderson and a header from City player-manager Paul Bodin which
sailed past his own post were the closest the Brewers came to finding the
net, and it was no great surprise when the visitors took the lead on the
half hour mark. Bodin's cross was headed goalwards by Martin Paul, and the
ball was pushed out only as far as Kevin Lloyd, who converted from
close range.
A Clough free-kick five minutes before the break threatened to cause problems, but City 'keeper Sal Bibbo, who took the 'Emmerdale' taunts thrown at him in good humour, claimed at the feet of Darren Stride, and continuing the impression that we'd somehow gone back in a time-warp to the John Barton era, the half time whistle was greeted by boos from a section of supporters. |
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Things
could only get better, and they did, at least in terms of entertainment value,
in the second half. The introduction of Aaron Webster brought a spark of
life to proceedings, and it was he who engineered the Brewers' equalizer
on 56 minutes.
A determined run down the left flank saw Webster shrug off the challenges of three Bath players before handing the baton to Neil Glasser, who's shot was parried by Bibbo, leaving Christian Moore with the simple task of tapping in the rebound. The 1,376 crowd sensed that things might be improving, but within ten minutes Bath had regained their lead, and unbelievably, it was yet another glaring error from Matt Duke which handed the visitors their goal on a plate. Bodin's cross was dropped by the Albion 'keeper at the feet of Colin Towler, who made no mistake from ten yards. There calls for Duke's head on a plate would surely have increased in volume, had not the Brewers found an instant response to draw level straight from the kick-off, Stride's shot blocked, Moore once again on hand to poach his second of the game. |
| That was it
in terms of goals, but the circus was not yet over. With 10 minutes to go,
it was time to send in the clowns - or rather clown, in the form of City
midfielder Jon Holloway, a man who never fails to provide entertainment
value. Having been shown a yellow card moments earlier, the former Gloucester
man was seen to elbow Christian Moorein an off-the-ball incident.
After a touchline fracas and consultations between linesman and referee, Mr Stretton from Enderby brandished the red card, but that was not the end of the performance, as the hot-headed Holloway raced 20 yards back onto the pitch to have one final pop at Moore, before heading off for his early bath. The tempo having been raised, and with numerical advantage now, a grandstand finish looked in prospect, but despite the return of Phil Starbuck as substitute, the bombardment of the Bath goal never really arrived, Jason Kavanagh spurning the Brewers' best chance of winning it right at the death, shooting tamely over from just outside the six-yard box after good work down the right flank from Starbuck. And so it finished, one more point which keeps the Brewers clinging on at the top of the table - for now. It may not yet be time to start panicking, but the danger signs are there for all to see. |
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| Title
doubts start to creep in
Alarm bells are starting to ring at Eton Park after the Brewers dropped two precious home points against Cambridge City last night, handing the initiative firmly to title rivals Margate. Albion came from behind to lead 2-1, but another kamikaze error of the kind we hoped we'd seen the last of from Brewers 'keeper Matt Duke brought Cambridge back into the game. With the rain lashing down, the ball was zipping around the Eton Park turf nicely, but neither goal was seriously threatened until Cambridge drew first blood with 10 minutes on the clock.
Jason Kavanagh
chose to use his chest to guide the ball back to Duke from a routine ball
into the box but it slipped over the line for a corner before the Brewers'
'keeper could claim it. Adam Wilde swung the ball in and after the Brewers
failed to clear their lines John Girling was on hand to convert from
close range. |
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| Albion almost
found an instant response as Dale Anderson flashed a shot over the bar, and
two minutes later a jinking run from Anderson ended with a shot which
failed to test City 'keeper Martin Davies.
At the other end, the City No. 10 brought a good save out of Duke with a 25-yard effort, but on 21 minutes the Brewers were back on level terms. Loan signing Adam Burley swung in a free-kick from the right deep to the far post, Mark Blount nodded the ball back across goal, and Darren Wassall was on hand to head home. |
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And
things got even better for the Brewers seven minutes later thanks to a bizzare
mix-up in the Lilywhites' defence. Pat Lyons broke into the box and rolled
a low ball towards the six yard box. As Davies came out to collect, City
defender Steve Holden passed the ball straight past him and over the
line.
With their tails up now, it should have been plain sailing for the Brewers but Duke's mistake on 34 minutes saw an ascendant Albion back to square one. Adam Wilde swung in a free-kick from the left, Duke came to claim it but the ball slipped from his grasp and fell to Kevin Wilkin, who made no mistake of volleying into the net. The second half got underway, and the Brewers had a handful of early chances to re-establish their lead. Christian Moore headed over from a Darren Stride cross a minute after the restart, and soon after Stride shot tamely at the 'keeper after good build-up work from Burley and Moore. |
| But the best
chance of the second half came and went on 70 minutes. In a similar scenario
to the Brewers' first goal, David Holmes, on for the injured Burley, swung
in a free-kick from the left, Darren Wassall headed back across goal, and
with Christian Moore in the six-yard box primed and ready to strike, Darren
Stride got in first, stooping to head the ball round the wrong side of the
post.
And that turned out to be the high point of a very poor second half. Holmes had a low shot tipped round the post by the 'keeper ten minutes from time, but in the most part an Albion side lacking in ideas and urgency were reduced to humping long balls forward for Anderson and the anonymous Christian Moore to chase. The visit of Bath City, one of only two sides to have beaten the Brewers this season, now takes on an even greater importance, and despite their three-point lead at the top of the table, Margate's two games in hand mean the Brewers will be looking anxiously over their shoulders, and Nigel Clough will be asking himself if his side in it's present form really have what it takes to stay the distance. |
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| Trouble
mars Trophy win
The Brewers booked themselves an FA Trophy Fourth Round trip to Scarborough at the weekend, but a 2-0 victory over Bishop Auckland was overshadowed by crowd trouble from a section of 'supporters' who attached themselves to the visitors from the North East. Christian Moore (right) headed Albion into the lead from David Holmes' corner in the first half, and skipper Darren Stride combined with Holmes to add the second goal on the stroke of half time, but ultimately it was the troublemakers who stole the headlines.
After trashing
the Navigation Pub in Horninglow Road, trouble kicked off inside the ground
when Bishops fans refused to change ends as Albion attacked the Derby Road
end in the first half. Scuffles broked out and the police and stewards moved
in to seperate home and away fans. |
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| Two pitch invasions
followed at half time and midway through the second half, as extra police
officers were diverted from Stoke City's match at the Brittania Stadium,
some 45 in total to police the 1,173 crowd.
On the pitch, a hard-fought performance from the Brewers, with manager Nigel Clough watching from the dugout, saw off the challenge of the UniBond League side, with creditable performances from the resurgent David Holmes, who received a standing ovation as he came off 15 minutes from the end, and 'keeper Matt Duke, who made a number of crucial saves. Sadly it wasn't the football that will be remembered from this match, and the club has issued a statement on the events of Saturday which can be found on the Brewers' official site... The Brewers go on to face Nationwide Conference Scarborough at the McCain Stadium on February 3rd, another tough test for Nigel Clough's side. Before then we have a number of key league matches - on Saturday Albion make the long trek to the Dorset coast to take on Weymouth (3pm), next Tuesday sees the re-arranged match against Cambridge City at Eton Park (7.30pm), followed by the visit of Bath City on Saturday 27th January (3pm). |
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| Brewers
back on top
Albion made good use of their game in hand last night, comfortably dispatching Fisher Athletic 4-0 at the Surrey Docks Stadium to reclaim their place at the top of the Dr. Martens League. Fisher may be struggling at the wrong end of the table, but high flying teams have come a cropper there alrady this season. Any early jitters for the Brewers were soon settled as they took the lead on 13 minutes. Nigel Clough floated a free-kick into the box, David Holmes - in for the absent Christian Moore nodded the ball on and Mark Blount converted from six yards out.
It was 2-0 on the
half hour mark, Holmes, who made Albion's winning goal against Newport on
Saturday, again instrumental, providing the cross for Pat Lyons -
another player recalled to the side for the injured Neil Glasser - to head
home. |
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| Aaron Webster
made his return through injury in place of Dale Anderson, who limped off
with an injured ankle, and made an immediate impact on the game as the Brewers
had the game virtually sewn up from their first corner of the night, Webster
the provider, Darren Stride crashing home the header.
The seconds half was a much quieter affair, just one goal to liven up proceedings. Nigel Clough split the Fisher defence with a 40-yard pass, and Stride raced into the box only to be brought down. Aaron Webster cooly slotted home the resultant penalty, before being replaced by David Rennie, another player returning from injury. An impressive performance from the Brewers, who can now look forward to the distraction of the FA Umbro Trophy, and the visit of Bishop Auckland on Saturday, knowing that top spot is safe - for now! |
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| Back
to winning ways
The Brewers returned to winning ways after the disappointment of New Year's Day defeat at Ilkeston, but had to work hard for their three points against Newport County at Eton Park. The Brewers had the chances to have taken a commanding lead at half time, but in the end the game was decided by Darren Stride's goal nine minutes from time.
Albion got off
to an attacking start, with Christian Moore signalling the Brewers' attacking
intentions, firing straight at 'keeper Pat Mountain on 4 minutes. Four minutes
later a fine Albion move almost provided a goal for new signing Adam Burley
on his home debut. |
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| Nigel Clough
and Christian Moore swapped passes before releasing Dale Anderson, who played
in Burley on the left edge of the Newport box, but his floated cross/shot
landed agonizingly wide of the far post, and out of reach of the onrushing
Stride.
Albion continued to make all the running, and on 25 minutes Stride had another golden opportunity to open the scoring from Mark Blount's through ball, but shot wastefully wide. Dale Anderson took too many touches after being sent into the box by Clough, before play was held up by a nasty looking injury to Neil Glasser, following a late challenge from visiting hardman Ryan Souter, who received a yellow card for his trouble. |
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As
the half moved into stoppage time there was still time for more scoring chances
- first Anderson saw his shot tipped over by Mountain, then Stride sent through
Christian Moore for a great chance, but Moore failed to spot Anderson in
acres of space on the left, inside the Newport box.
It took just five minutes of the second half before the deadlock was finally broken. Burley sent Dale Anderson into the box, and the striker was brought down by Mountain. Christian Moore fired home the resultant penalty. Anderson had a chance to add to the Brewers tally after being denied by Mountain, but 20 minutes after taking the lead, it was back to square one as the Welshmen pulled one back. Jason Kavanagh conceded a free-kick, Stuart James swung the ball in, and Gary Kemp leapt to beat Matt Duke with a header. |
| It looked like
being another frustrating afternoon for the Brewers, but the breakthrough
came courtesy of substitute David Holmes, who brought a spark of life to
the game, and created what proved to be the killer goal, nine minutes from
time.
Holmes weaved his way through three County defenders down the left flank before driving in a cross which Mountain could only parry to the feet of Brewers skipper Darren Stride, who buried the ball in the net to the delight of the fans at the Derby Road end. Not the most convincing of victories, but another crucial three points for the Brewers, especially given that leaders Margate won at Worcester City. The Brewers can return to the top of the table with victory over Fisher Athletic at the Surrey Docks Stadium tonight (Tuesday), before attention returns to the FA Umbro Trophy with the visit to Eton Park of UniBond League side Bishop Auckland on Saturday (3pm). |
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| Robins
knock Brewers off perch
Albion boss Nigel Clough blasted his team after a New Year's day defeat at Ilkeston Town saw the Brewers lose their place at the top of the Dr. Martens League, as 2001 got underway in disappointing fashion. "If people can't handle being top of the league they should go and play for a mid-table team in the comfort zone," an irate Clough told the Burton Mail, after the Brewers' 2-1 reversal at a rain-soaked New Manor Ground, "Being top of the league is very hard because everyone you play is fighting and give an extra ten percent to try and beat you. But you have to be prepared for it and make sure you match it."
After having come
from behind to equalize thanks to a Clough goal in an evenly balanced first
half, the Brewers conceded a sloppy second goal and never looked like finding
a way back for a second time, as their predictable tactics were easily dealt
with by the big guns in the Ilson backline. |
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| Albion came
up against the same problems they experienced in the corresponding game last
season, and their inability either to defend against or break down big, physical
sides like Ilkeston will be serious cause for concern for Clough as the season
reaches it's half way point.
The alarm bells were ringing inside the first ten minutes as Matt Duke flapped at an Ilson cross in the jitter-inducing manner we hoped we'd seen the last of, and soon after another cross into the Albion box caused problems for the Brewers 'keeper. Ilkeston bundled the ball over the line but luckily the referee had spotted an infringement and the 'goal' was disallowed. |
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Albion's
best chance of the half came when Clough set free Dale Anderson down the
right, the striker's mazy run ending with a save blocked by Robins 'keeper
Gerard Doherty, but soon after it was 1-0 to the home side, as Ian
Heliwell's header from a long throw-in went into the net off Mark
Blount.
Duke redeemed his earlier error with a fine save to prevent Mark Clifford scoring a second goal soon after, but the Brewers hit back just past the half hour mark as Darren Stride - one of few players who appeared to relish this kind of battle, forced his way through the midfield before setting up Nigel Clough to fire home from the edge of the box. |
| Albion came
out after the break looking the better side, and it seemed that if anyone
was going to score, it would be Nigel Clough's team. But on 64 minutes they
found themselves trailing again, after sloppily conceding possession once
too often. James Whitehead broke down the left flank, and after his cross
was shockingly allowed to travel right across the face of goal past three
statuesque Brewer defenders, defender Rob Gould lapped up the chance
to score his 12th goal of the season.
From then on it was an uphill battle. As the rain lashed down in droves the Brewers huffed and puffed but never looked like breaking a way through a well-drilled Ilson defence. Margate's last gasp winner against Folkestone Invicta completed a miserable afternoon for the Brewers, as the Kent side take over at the top of the Premier Division, adding even more importance both to Saturday's home match against Newport County, and the Brewers' game in hand, at Fisher Athletic next Tuesday. |
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