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| November 1998 Match Reports | |
Monday 30th November 1998 Ejiofor stunner silences Rams Friendly: Burton Albion 3 Derby County 1 Goals from Craig Smith, David Holmes and a stunner from Emeka Ejiofor earned the Brewers a victory against Premiership neighbours Derby, in a match arranged to commemorate the official switching on of the clubs new £80,000 floodlights. In an entertaining contest in front of just over a thousand spectators Derby, who included such star names as Stefano Eranio, Deon Burton and Stefan Schnoor in their team, were denied by the crossbar and some superb goalkeeping from Nick Goodwin, as they attempted to overturn Craig Smith's 47th minute opener for the Brewers. Malcolm Christie slotted in from close range for Derby to level the scores on 67 minutes - a fourth goal against the Brewers this season for the ex-Nuneaton frontman. Derby stepped up a gear after this but Goodwin and the crossbar denied them time and again. David Holmes put Albion back in front on 75 minutes, after a good move with Andy Garner, and the icing on the cake came eight minutes from time - substitute Emeka Ejiofor running at the Derby defence to unleash a wicked right foot shot from the edge of the box, which curled in past former Brewers keeper Richard Knight. A goal which would have graced any ground in the Premiership. Nigel Clough and Gary Crosby both made late appearances on in a game in which virtually the entire first team squad was involved. Youngsters Aaron Webster and Ruben Francis, newcomer Wayne Sutton, and new signing from youth team Michael Allsopp all made appearances as the Brewers used their full compliment of substitutes. A lively performance this from the Brewers who are immediately back in action again on Tuesday evening at home to Kings Norton Town in the Birmingham Senior Cup (Kick-Off 7.45pm).
Saturday 28th November 1998 Gingerbreads take the biscuit Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 0 Grantham Town 1 A stunning strike from Robert Pell sent Albion crashing into the Dr. Martens League bottom five, as the inconsistency which dogged John Barton's time at the club reared it's head once more. A week after the 5-0 mauling of Bamber Bridge, the Brewers succumbed to a Grantham side in turmoil on and off the pitch - with managerial upheaval, players transfer-listed and plummeting attendances having ravaged the Gingerbreads' first season back in the Premier Division. Nigel Clough's Burton Albion have now taken only one point in three home league games, and in this match the Brewers once again lacked the creativity in midfield and the potency upfront to cause a repeat of the 3-0 victory they inflicted to knock Grantham in the FA Trophy in October - Clough's first match in charge. The Brewers' boss was forced to field a below-strength line-up, with defensive kingpin Mark Blount, and midfield dynamo Darren Stride suspended, and Alan Davies and Andy Garner both out injured. Blount and especially Stride were sorely missed, with stand-in captain Tony Marsden - a former Grantham player- once again failing to impress the 838 crowd, who greeted the final whistle with a chorus of boos. After a lively start, the game rarely rose above the mediocre, with Albion struggling to find a way through the well-organised Grantham defence. Andrews and Twynham both had headers flash across the Burton goal early on, whilst only David Holmes tested Germaine at the other end. Latching on to Dave Benton's header back from the Grantham keeper's goal-kick, Holmes' clever shot on the turn from long-range almost caught out the retreating Germaine, who just managed to smother the ball under his body. Gary Crosby took on the Grantham full-back to supply a rare penetrating ball into the box, but there was no-one to convert it, and the last attacking move of the first-half fell to the visitors, Gary Twynham finishing a run into the box with a shot which curled just wide of the far post. The second period was looking as uninspiring as the first when Robert Pell brought a touch of magic to proceedings. Picking up the ball some 30 yards out, the Grantham striker let rip with a scorching shot which curled inside the far post, past the helpless Goodwin. Minutes later, Tony Marsden had a chance to level for the Brewers, but miskicked hopelessly from 15 yards. The visitors were now content to defend in depth, and Albion offered little sign of equalising. Emeka Ejiofor was brought on as an extra attacker along with new signing Wayne Sutton - making his league debut, but still the Brewers couldn't find the spark of inspiration which was needed for a breakthrough. Craig Smith had one shot sail wide of the post, and another six minutes from time was only parried by Germaine, but substitute Nwadike was on hand to scramble the ball away from the onrushing Crosby. In fact it was Grantham who looked more like scoring. Scott Goodwin and Robert Pell both had chances to increase the home fans misery - the latter hitting the post in the dying minutes. As it was one goal was enough to give Nigel Clough more food for thought - certain members of the squad he has inherited are clearly not up to the job. Two away trips next week - to Boston United on Saturday (5th December, Kick-Off 3pm) and Cambridge City the following Tuesday (8th December, Kick-Off 7.30pm) will provide a further test for Clough's men, with the Brewers desperately needing league points to bolster their position before the festive fixture pile-up.
Saturday 21st November 1998 Five-star Albion's Trophy tonic FA Umbro Trophy 2nd Round: Burton Albion 5 Bamber Bridge 0 The Brewers put the disappointment of last week's FA Cup exit behind them, with a five-goal demolition of Bamber Bridge to book their passage into the Third Round of the FA Trophy. All five goals came in a blistering second half display which saw the Unibond Premier Division side ripped to shreds by the running and pace of David Holmes, with the BrewersNet sponsored striker having a hand in nearly all the goals and netting one himself for good measure. Bridge won themselves a corner two minutes into the game, but this was virtually the last time the visiting fans had anything to cheer during the entire 90 minutes. In fact there was little to excite supporters of either side during a first-half stalemate typical of the encounters Albion have had with Unibond League opposition in recent years. Despite dominating possession, and at times displaying some of the passing football which is the Clough trademark, the Brewers could barely muster up a single goalscoring opportunity, all too often running out of ideas in the final third of the field. A change of approach was needed, and whatever Mr Clough said in the dressing room at half-time did the trick, as his team had effectively killed the game off within ten minutes of the restart. Straight away Albion looked more dangerous, with David Holmes flashing a shot in to test keeper Dootson, and four minutes into the second half it was Holmes who finally pierced the Bridge defence - his powerful run leaving the visiting full back trailing in his wake, his fine cross from the right being equalled by a crashing header into the roof of the net from Steve Spooner. Four minutes later, it was 2-0, a near-identical goal, but this time Alan Davies the provider, and Darren Stride heading home. Holmes was at the heart of every attacking move and almost scored one himself on 63 minutes, latching on to a long punt out of defence from Grocutt to test Dootson with a lob the visiting keeper only just tipped over. Holmes - by now running amok through the Bamber Bridge defence at will - burst through on 67 minutes to fire a shot in from the left. Keeper Dootson couldn't hold on to the ball, and Spooner was on hand to drill in his second from close range. Still there was no stopping Holmes. On 79 minutes his rampaging run from deep, and lay-off across the face of the goal set up substitute Craig Smith for the easiest of tap-in's. And there was even time for the BrewersNet sponsored maestro to complete the rout, with a goal of his own - a simple slot in from Holmes, on the stroke of full-time. With passage to the Third Round booked in convincing fashion, the Brewers can now put the Trophy to the back of their minds until January, with Clough's men finally returning to league action after a seemingly never-ending spell of Cup football since the Albion boss took over a month ago. Grantham Town visit Eton Park this Saturday (kick-off 3pm), seeking to avenge their FA Trophy exit at the hands of the Brewers last month. A trip to Boston United (Saturday December 5th kick-off 3pm) is followed by a rearranged trip to Cambridge City on Tuesday 8th December. League points are now a priority, with Albion having much ground to recover to lift themselves from the lowly 17th spot they currently occupy in the Dr. Martens League..
Tuesday 17th November 1998 Magic 'Meka has Moor to offer Dr. Martens League Cup First Round, 2nd Leg: Burton Albion 4 Moor Green 1 Emeka Ejiofor grabbed another two goals to add to his first-leg brace to knock Moor Green out of the Dr. Martens League Cup 6-3 on aggregate, at a fog-bound Eton Park. And new signing Wayne Sutton also bagged two on his Brewers debut. Sutton, 23 -a defender/ midfielder - became Nigel Clough's first signing when he joined the club on Sunday on a non-contract basis from Woking. Sutton previously played in the first-team at Derby County before joining the Conference side. Sutton lined up in midfield in another experimental Brewers team which also included manager Nigel Clough - making his home debut - alongside youth-team players Michael Allsopp and midfielder Chris Bradshaw. Hotly-rated youngster Aaron Webster made his sixth start of the season, assistant manager Gary Crosby returned to the side after being cup-tied for Saturday's trip to Kingstonian, and Craig Smith was given a chance to prove his own credentials alongside Ejiofor upfront. After a promising start from Moor Green, in which Nick Lamorte - scorer of two in last week's first-leg - threatened Goodwin's goal, Albion began to take control of the game, with youngsters Bradshaw and Allsopp looking very assured on the ball. Bradshaw it was who supplied the cross for Albion's first goal, powerfully headed in by Ejiofor on 27 miuntes. With the fog creeping in ever thicker, it was becoming difficult to see from one end of the pitch to the other, when Wayne Sutton fired in from the edge of the box to make it 2-0. Albion continued to dominate in the second half, but they had to wait until 20 minutes from time for another goal - Aaron Webster's cross in driven past keeper Heyes by Ejiofor. Five minutes later it was four - a fine 25 yarder from Sutton capping a pleasing debut performance from him. Moor Green grabbed a consolation goal two minutes before the end, courtesy of a fine effort by Dean Tilley which the handful of visiting Moor Green fans - stranded in mist at the far end - greeted with a chant of "1-0, 1-0"! This was a fine, controlled performance from an unfamiliar Albion team which will increase calls for manager Clough to experiment with his younger players in more important matches in the coming weeks.
Saturday 14th November 1998 K's K-O Clough Cup hopes FA Cup First Round Proper: Kingstonian 1 Burton Albion 0 A battling performance from the Brewers in deepest Surrey couldn't prevent Kingstonian from progressing to the Second Round, and a money-spinning home tie against Leyton Orient. Albion were more than a match for their Conference counterparts for long periods of the game, but ultimately the Brewers' lack of pace and power upfront proved the key difference between the two sides, with K's star player Gavin Holligan netting the only goal of a tightly fought contest - probably his last for Kingstonian, as the 18 year-old is expected to sign with Premiership West Ham United next week. The first half saw few clearcut chances for either team, with the Burton defence, marshalled by Mark Blount - returning to the side after injury - doing a good job of containing the threat of K's prodigious young striker - who's 13th minute shot was deflected behind for a corner by Darren Grocutt. David Holmes had the best of the few chances that came Albion's way, but couldn't work the magic which had seen him score in every round of the competition thus far. Cutting inside the defender from a Garner pass, Holmes could only shoot tamely at keeper Farrelly, and on 33 minutes the BrewersNet sponsored striker fired over the bar following a swift passing movement between Marsden and Stride. An effective first half display by the Brewers was marred only by the over-zealous refereeing of Mr Tomlin, with Tony Marsden and Pat Lyons both receiving yellow cards - four Albion and two Kingstonian players would eventually be booked by the card-happy official. Luckett fired a warning shot across Albion bows soon after the interval, his shot skimming dangerously close to Nick Goodwin's far post. Albion were creating chances of their own too - but David Holmes' wicked cross from the right found only a total absence of sky-blue shirts in the K's box. The Brewers were also conceding possession too freely, and they were punished for their carelessness on 64 minutes, when a swift counter-attack produced a corner for the home side. Pitcher's ball in riccocheted off the crossbar from the head of Matt Crossley, and Gavin Holligan was on hand to poke the ball home from close range. With backs now up against the wall, Albion produced their best football of the game. Urged on by their travelling supporters who made up a sizeable proportion of the disappointingly low crowd, the Brewers pressed forward at every opportunity, but for all their undoubted effort and commitment, lacked the cutting edge to penetrate a well organised K's defence. Another fine David Holmes cross was punched off the head of Darren Stride by the home keeper, and an even better one from Alan Davies couldn't produce the goal so badly needed - this after fine work from the tenacious Pat Lyons - having his best game of the season. With the seconds ticking away, Clough brought on the Brewers' own highly-rated young striker, Ruben Francis - rather later than most fans wanted - in place of defender Nick Ashby. And still they pushed forward. Farrelly couldn't hold a David Holmes' shot, with the K's defence hurriedly scrambling the ball away, and Albion forced two corners in the dying seconds of injury time, desperately seeking the goal that would bring Kingstonian back to Eton Park for a replay. But it wasn't to be. The home side rode out intense late pressure from the Brewers to earn a place in the Second Round, and another crack at giant-killing for manager and old FA Cup campaigner Geoff Chapple. Clough could hardly have asked for more from his players, but the truth is that his team were beaten by a better side. However, there'll be no respite from the cut and thrust of cup football for the Brewers boss - next week it's Bamber Bridge at home in the FA Trophy. As one road to Wembley draws to an end, another one beckons.
Saturday 7th November 1998 Adders nightmare returns to haunt Albion Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 0 Atherstone United 3 Halloween came a week late at Eton Park. The perpetrators of this nightmare November afternoon - Atherstone United - the perennial thorn in Albion sides. Ron Bradbury's well-drilled troops brought Nigel Clough's "honeymoon period" to an end with three second half goals - it could have been four - which stunned, though probably didn't surprise the 960 crowd, for this was Atherstone's sixteenth victory in the past nineteen meetings between the two sides. You couldn't find two more contrasting managers - Clough the glamour boy - fresh faced, media-savvy but unaccustomed to this low level of football, and featured in just about every newspaper in the country over the past fortnight; Bradbury the old hand - blunt, plain talking and with a wealth of non-league experience, though barely known outside of Dr. Martens League circles. Once again his team worked hard, defended in depth and took their chances well, to give Clough the same treatment so many of his Eton Park predecessors have received at the hands of their Warwickshire neighbours. Matches against Atherstone are not renowned for being pleasing on the eye, and this was no exception, with the 960 fans receiving little entertainment value for their entrance fee. Boyd Young and Danny Martin had chances for Atherstone, Lee Middleton twice shot high over the Albion crossbar, and for the Brewers Darren Stride also blasted over from close range - this was the closest either side came to finding the net in a truly dreadful first half. The Brewers were unchanged from Tuesday night's draw with Nuneaton, but were creating few chances, and their tame attempts at passing movements were stifled by Atherstone's tight marking. The second half was looking like settling into the same pattern as the first, when Atherstone broke the deadlock on 61 minutes. Martin's cross from the left slipped through the grasp of Goodwin - under pressure from Leon Kelly- and the ball went into the net off Tony Marsden. If the first goal was a little unfortunate, the Brewers could not grumble about the second and third which came as the result of terrible defending - Albion are clearly missing the presence of the injured Mark Blount. On 62 minutes Kelly latched on to captain Mark Albrighton's pass to slot home past Goodwin, then ten minutes from time Paul White picked up the ball from deep and was allowed acres of space to turn and shoot into the bottom corner of the net. The crowd had begun to stream away but still Atherstone threatened to pile on more misery - hitting the crossbar as the game drew to a close. Many of the fans thoughts were on next week's FA Cup First Round trip to Kingstonian, and perhaps the players' were too. The sooner this match is forgotten - the better.
Tuesday 3rd November 1998 Holmes strike earns point for Brewers Dr. Martens League: Burton Albion 1 Nuneaton Borough 1 David Holmes pulled out another wonder-goal to earn Albion a point against their high-flying neighbours - the third time the teams have met this season. The BrewersNet sponsored striker's second half lob equalised Richie Gardner's opener for Boro', and Nick Goodwin produced two wonderful second half saves to keep Albion in the match. The Brewers were attempting to gain ground in the Dr. Martens League after the intense Cup activity of recent weeks, and Gary Crosby was named in the starting line-up, making his first appearance for the Brewers since joining the club with Nigel Clough, and was quickly involved in the action, whipping in a cross from the left which just needed a touch to send it towards goal. Soon after, Crosby appeared to be headbutted by the Boro' number 5, but after consulting with his linesman, referee Dexter took no action except to award Albion only a free-kick. Mark Blount was a notable absentee from the Brewers defence through injury, and after 27 minutes the unblemished defensive record acheived since Nigel Clough's arrival as manager was brought to an end. Following a quick break which left Albion exposed at the back, Ian Muir launched in a cross which was met by Richie Gardner. The ball took a wicked deflection off Alan Davies, leaving Goodwin without a chance of making a save. An unlucky goal to concede, especially for Davies - making his 350th appearance for the Brewers. In the second half, Tony Marsden had a 63rd minute shot just over the bar, but chances were few and far between, and David Holmes' goal came - as usual for him - out of the blue. Gary Crosby found Holmes in space 25 yards out, and the Brewers striker's shot looped out of reach of the keeper, and under the crossbar. Encouraged by this, Albion began to push forward with more conviction, but it was Boro' who had the better scoring chances. Twice - from Garner and Wray - Nick Goodwin produced stunning saves to deny Nuneaton a league double over the Brewers. Then, right at the end of an entertaining game, Pat Lyons had a chance to nick all three points for the Brewers, but couldn't beat the onrushing Boro' keeper.
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