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| February 1999 News | |
Wednesday 24th February 1999 Long distance Brewers running on "4-star" Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Hastings Town 1 Burton Albion 4 The first of the Brewers' marathon jaunts across the country ended in triumph, as they thrashed Hastings Town 4-1 at Pilot Field on Tuesday night. Pat Lyons - much maligned in recent weeks - grabbed two goals and Mark Blount headed a third in a six minute first-half spell which saw the game sown-up by half-time. Stuart Playford's 58th minute header briefly raised Hasting's hopes, but Andy Garner - a player who has answered his critics with a series of hard-working displays in recent weeks - killed the game off with a headed goal ten minutes later. Nick Goodwin put in another fine display of goalkeeping to repel the home side, with the scoreline flattering Albion somewhat. Two-goal hero Pat Lyons had accompanied team-mate Darren Stride - who has just recovered from a pelvic injury - to a Harley Street specialist en-route to Tuesday night's game, and was told he will need an operation to correct a groin injury. This may explain the midfielder's poor form recently. Teenage striker Ruben Francis - who started a league game for the first time in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Atherstone - was absent from the Hastings game as he and young midfielder Aaron Webster have gone on a 3-day trial with Nationwide Division Two side Manchester City. On a night when the freefall down the table of Albion's neighbours Gresley finally cost Garry Birtles his job, the Brewers victory in Sussex eases their own relegation worries - lifting them to 14th in the table. However, points are still at a premium as the travelling continues with another trip to the South Coast on Saturday when Albion take on Weymouth at the Wessex Stadium (Kick-Off 3pm). This is followed by a visit to Milton Road the following Tuesday, 2nd March, to play Cambridge City (Kick-Off 7.30pm). Saturday 20th February 1999 Last gasp sickener at Sheepy Road Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Atherstone United 2 Burton Albion 2 Albion looked set to continue their schizophrenic form, with a fifth successive away victory to compliment their five-in-a-row home defeats, until perennial party-poopers Atherstone stole a point, courtesy of a goal four minutes from time by substitute Stuart Aubury, in front of 502 at Sheepy Road. Full Match Report... Tuesday 16th February 1999 Bilston draw means more fixture chaos Dr. Martens League Cup Third Round: Burton Albion 0 Bilston Town 0 The Brewers have another away trip to add to their already congested schedule after last night's goalless draw against Bilston Town in the Dr. Martens League Cup. Just 179 spectators turned out for this game, not surprising given the dreadful stuff home fans have had to put up with in recent weeks. Nigel Clough drafted in some of the players on the fringes of the first team squad - like defender Matt Smith, midfielder Aaron Webster and striker Ruben Francis, but few of them showed anything to merit a regular first team place. Speaking in the Burton Mail, Clough said "People have been knocking at my door to tell me they think they should be in the team, but they didn't impress me." However, Clough might have no choice but to field them soon after two more key players - Steve Spooner and David Holmes exited Monday night's match early through injuries - Spooner with a groin strain, Holmes with a back strain - just days after Clough himself and Brendan Hackett both limped out of the Brewers' 1-0 home defeat by Bath. The lengthening injury list is just what Nigel Clough doesn't need ahead of a marathon ten-day spell in which Albion must travel more than 1,200 miles to catch up on their Dr. Martens League fixture backlog. The Brewers travel to near neighbours Atherstone on Saturday (20th Feb, kick-off 3pm), but that match is swiftly followed by long haul trips to Hastings next Tuesday (23rd, kick-off 7.30pm), Weymouth (Sat 27th), and Cambridge (Tuesday 2nd March). Albion desperately need to pick up some points on their travels after a run of five consecutive home league defeats since the turn of the year - enlivened only by an away win at Grantham at the end of last month. They are currently just one place above the relegation zone. Sunday 14th February 1999 Cloughs watch on as Brewers lose again Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 0 Bath City 1 Brian Clough was at Eton Park yesterday to watch his son's team in action for the first time, but the old maestro of passing football will not have been impressed by a scrappy game of few chances, and another ineffective performance from the Brewers. Their fifth successive home league defeat of the season leaves Albion just one place above the relegation zone. Full Match Report... Saturday 6th February 1999 Cloughie's shot can't stop the home rot Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 1 Salisbury City 2 Eton Park used to be a tough place for opposition players to visit. Nowadays it's virtually three guaranteed points for whoever comes to to visit. Yesterday Salisbury City were the lucky recipients, not that there was any luck involved - they were the better team, and the margin could have been greater. Salisbury - in a fine run of form at the moment - have now won nine of the last eleven games, whilst Albion can only reflect on a dismal home record - nine home defeats so far this season - four of them in 1999. Full Match Report... Tuesday 2nd February 1999 Two-goal Tony's a born-again predator Dr. Martens League Cup Second Round Replay: Burton Albion 2 Atherstone United 1 Just how much football-related excitement can you take on a Tuesday evening? Less than an hour after the England manager is sacked for his views on reincarnation, Tony Marsden banishes once and for all rumours that he was a donkey in a previous life, by smashing in two goals inside the first five minutes of this Dr. Martens League Cup replay, to add to the one he got against Grantham on Saturday. Full Match Report... Monday 1st February 1999 'Meka's a Brewer no Moor Striker Emeka Ejiofor joined Dr. Martens Midland Division side Moor Green on a free transfer on Thursday after a loan spell with the club. Ejiofor broke into the first team under John Barton, after impressive performances in the reserve and youth teams, but wasn't able to claim a regular place in the first team squad, either under Barton or his successor Nigel Clough. His finest moments as a Brewer came in minor competitions - his goal (and celebration) at Tamworth in the Birmingham Senior Cup Final of 1997, and a stunning goal against Derby County in a friendly in November in particular stand out. Emeka's transfer comes just a week after the departure of full back Nick Ashby to Raunds Town. Ashby - a former non-league International joined the Brewers in the summer of 1997 from Rushden & Diamonds, and became a first team regular, but this season he fell out of favour under John Barton, and has barely received a look-in under Nigel Clough. The transfer to Dr. Martens Southern Division Raunds is particularly suited to Ashby because of the club's proximity to his Northamptonshire home. |
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