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| December 1998 Match Reports | |
Monday 28th December 1998 Three-in-a-row Brewers' rule the Manor Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Ilkeston Town 1 Burton Albion 2 The Brewers made a dream start to this Bank Holiday Monday clash at the New Manor Ground, taking the lead after less than two minutes. In fact, your BrewersNet correspondent was still making his way into the ground when Pat Lyons latched onto a mammoth, end-to-end Nick Goodwin goal kick to slot home his first goal of the season, with Robins' keeper Chris Marples distracted by the close attentions of David Holmes. The early goal was a statement of intent from a rapidly improving Brewers team who's confidence seems to rise with every match these days. Brendan Hackett came close to making it 2-0 on 6 minutes, forcing a save out of Marples, as Albion went on to control the first half with comsumate ease, player manager Clough once again the inspiration behind an assured display of passing football. Tony Marsden floated a shot just wide on 25 minutes, after good build up play, David Holmes sliced a good chance wide, and Aaron Webster - on as substitute after Hackett limped off - headed straight at the keeper, but it wasn't until the stroke of half-time that Albion got the second goal their performance merited. Webster's brilliantly angled free-kick to the far post was headed back across goal by Blount, and David Holmes arrived to beat Marples from inside the box. Albion continued to have the better chances early in the second half, Craig Ludlum making a crucial challenge to deny Lyons, and Nigel Clough's free-kick from just outside the box curling inches over the crossbar. With another defeat to add to a disappointing Christmas campaign staring them in the face, the Robins began to push harder for a reply as the game wore on, and on 66 minutes they finally found a way through to goal. Ludlum's cross was headed down by Helliwell, and Darren Ball fired home from 12 yards. Ilkeston stepped up the gas, but rarely did Keith Alexander's side manage to breach the well-drilled Burton defence. Referee Mr Woolmer was forced to brandish a flurry of yellow cards as the home side resorted to more and more physical tactics, but despite an intense spell of late Ilkeston pressure, the Brewers held firm to record their third successive victory. A win against Gresley at the Moat Ground on Friday - New Years Day (Kick-Off 3pm) would complete a spectacularly successful festive period for Nigel Clough's men, and could even propel his side back into the top half of the table, less than a month after the Brewers' campaign reached it's nadir with that 4-0 reversal at Boston. Then comes a chance for Albion to really measure their improvement when Boston visit Eton Park for the return fixture this Sunday, 3rd January (Kick-Off 3pm).
Full Festive
League Programme:
Albion v Gresley - the complete history Saturday 26th December 1998 Derby joy for Cloughie's born-again Brewers Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 1 Gresley Rovers 0 Nigel Clough celebrated victory in part one of the festive double-header, his Albion team triumphing over that of fellow ex-Forest man Garry Birtles, as local rivals Gresley were sent back across the Trent Bridge with tails between their legs. A bumper Boxing Day crowd of 2,103 saw the Brewers in control for most of what was - as these games so often are - a largely scrappy affair. Not that there wasn't much to cheer Burton hearts, quite the opposite. Not only was this the second victory under Clough's managership - the first came last week at Tamworth - it was also their second successive clean sheet. In his first days at the club Clough had stressed the importance of not conceding goals, and two months on - there are encouraging signs his players are finally getting the message, with their manager now leading by example on the pitch. Clough named an unchanged team from the win at Tamworth, and here again the Brewers player-boss proved an inspiration to those around him. Not only was he a class apart from any other player on the Eton Park pitch, his presence at the heart of the five-man midfield has gelled together previously disparate elements into a cohesive team outfit, and brought out the best in those around him. Tony Marsden is a good example - a player who has earned his fair share of stick in recent weeks, but who built on the good work he started with a goal at Tamworth with a commanding and determined performance against his old team. After a bright opening by the Brewers, the half soon degenerated into a battle of attrition. Local pride was at stake and neither side wanted to give up too much ground. David Holmes had a shot saved by Stuart Ford, and at the other end Lyndan Rowland provided Nick Goodwin with some rare action, the Brewers keeper saving at the second attempt from the Rovers striker. The game really sparked to life in the second half, with Albion piling pressure on the Gresley goal, and earning a glut of corners as they attempted to break the deadlock. Stuart Ford had to save twice from Tony Marsden at close range, and the Rovers keeper almost let in Albion with an untimely slip in his own box which let in Brendan Hackett. A scrambled clearance fell to David Holmes, who's measured shot curled just over the Gresley bar - the closest either side had come to scoring. Darren Grocutt had had the ball in the net once for the Brewers, but was adjudged to have handled. On 62 minutes the Albion defender wrote his name on the scoresheet for real. A corner by Wayne Sutton - sporting a new bleached blonde hairstyle- was only half cleared, Steve Spooner whipped in a cross and Grocutt rose above the Gresley defence to power a header into the net, sending the home fans into delirium. Still the Brewers looked dangerous going forward, their corner tally stretching into double figures. Mark Blount was surprised by a ball across the face of goal which he could have converted, and the ex-Gresley defender also headed just over the bar. As the game wore on, Albion were happy to soak up Gresley pressure, and the Moatmen were finding it hard to get past the massed ranks of Nigel Clough's well drilled midfield. A double substitution by Garry Birtles sparked some immediate life into his team, who should have equalised on 74 minutes. Newcomer Mick Sandar seized on his first touch of the ball to produce a penetrating run from the right wing and a cross which was directed with pinpoint accuracy to the feet of fellow-subtitute Graeme Fowkes, the goal gaping before him. Time seemed to slow down for everyone else in the ground, but Fowkes was clearly startled by his first sight of the ball, and wastefully skewed his effort wide of the post, to the amusement of the home fans. Apart from this moment, Gresley scarcely looked like breaching the Brewers' back-line, but there was still time for one last moment of drama. Lyndan Rowland seeing a last-gasp effort saved and cleared off the line by Grocutt - match-winner at both ends of the field. A deserved victory this for Nigel Clough's men. Another performance like this at Ilkeston Town on Bank Holiday Monday (Kick-Off 3pm) will take the Brewers into the New Year with renewed confidence. Then of course there's the small matter of a New Years Day visit to the Moat Ground (Kick-Off 3pm), with Gresley out to avenge their Eton Park defeat. It's not exactly the most welcoming place at the best of times, but let's face it, Christmas time wouldn't be the same without it. Can the Brewers do the double over their hated rivals? Will Stuart Ford have put on any more weight since Boxing Day? What colour will Wayne Sutton's hair be?? For answers to all these questions and more, stay tuned to BrewersNet into 1999...
Saturday 19th December 1998 Lamb win breaks Clough duck Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Tamworth 0 Burton Albion 1 Nigel Clough took a leading role in this Staffordshire derby naming himself in the starting line-up for the first time in a league game, and inspiring his troops to their first league victory since he took over as manager. Clough was at the heart of a five-man midfield as the new-look Brewers showed a much improved performance on the poor run of form which saw them plummet into the Dr. Martens League relegation zone, giving thei supporters some long overdue festive cheer in the last match before the big Boxing Day clash with Gresley. With Darren Stride ruled out through injury, Wayne Sutton was handed his Dr. Martens League debut, and Brendan Hackett returned to the left-wing after lengthy injury problems, with Steve Spooner filling in at left-back. The Brewers immediately looked more assured, spreading the ball around with confidence, with Clough running the show from the heart of midfield, and they were ahead after just fifteen minutes. Brendan Hackett's fine corner from the left was met by a thumping header from six yards by Tony Marsden - a welcome first goal for a year for a player who has come in for his fair share of stick recently. On 23 minutes Hackett almost turned from provider to goalscorer, his curling shot from outside the box being tipped over the bar by Lambs keeper Tony Rowe. And Marsden had a chance to add to his tally from another header which sailed just wide on 30 minutes. Tamworth barely troubled Nick Goodwin's goal in the frist half, their efforts restricted to shots from distance, save for a close range effort from Haughton, which the Brewers keeper pushed round the post. After the interval, Tamworth began to push their way more into the game, Goodwin being forced to save efforts by Walker and Foy, and Haughton wasting a 57th minute chance with a poor shot straight at the keeper. The Brewers though rarely looked like conceeding, hanging on to their lead in assured, if unspectacular fashion. Tony Marsden skewed a shot hopelessly wide, and the Brewers still could have added to their lead in injury time - only the post denying David Holmes a deserved goal, after a performance in which the BrewersNet sponsored striker had run himself ragged as the lone frontman. At the final whistle, the Albion players acknowledged the support of their travelling fans who could make the short journey home happy with another step in the right direction from their team. Clough must now attempt to continue the turn around in his team's fortunes, over a hectic festive period. Local rivals Gresley Rovers visit Eton Park on Boxing Day - Saturday 26th December (Kick-Off 11.30am), with the return at the Moat Ground on New Years Day - Friday 1st January (Kick-Off 3pm). Inbetween there's a trip to Ilkeston Town on Bank Holiday Monday, 28th December (Kick-Off 3pm), before the Brewers return to home action against Boston United on Sunday January 3rd (Kick-Off 3pm).
Saturday 12th December 1998 Goal-shy Garner is pantomime carthorse Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 0 Rothwell Town 0 It's the pantomime season, and Albion striker Andy Garner entered into the spirit of things with a glaring 84th minute miss which left most of the pre-Christmas audience of 576 thinking "Oh no! He didn't!??". The blunder, which cost the Brewers a first league victory since September, further depleted Garner's standing in the eyes of a crowd who had already cast him as the villain, after another "ineffective" performance upfront. The fact that this was the Brewers first clean sheet of the season in the Dr. Martens League was little consolation for their failure to collect three points which would have made an ideal early Christmas present for Nigel Clough. The Brewers boss, perhaps not surprisingly, made defensive changes to the team which crashed 4-0 at Boston last week. Full backs Nick Ashby and Dave Benton were dropped, with Matt Smith and Michael Allsopp - making his league debut - taking their places. Albion thrashed Rothwell 4-1 back in August, but here their best football was confined to the first fifteen minutes of the game. Steve Spooner flashed a header across the face of the Rothwell goal from a David Holmes cross, and Holmes himself had a chance to fire the Brewers in front following a defensive mix-up between keeper Parsons and Dean Foley. Latching on to a long ball which the Rothwell pair left for each other, Holmes couldn't steer his lob on target, leaving the visitors' keeper berating his defender, Peter Schmeichel-style. As the Brewers continued their bright opening, Darren Stride came closest to finding the net, his 12th minute header from a fine cross by Allsopp rebounding off the post, and bobbling tantalisingly across the face of goal, but this would be the peak of the Brewers' attacking endeavours. Rothwell too had their chances, substitute Steve Coates testing Goodwin with a 25-yard drive just minutes after coming on to replace the injured Andy Tiday. And the Brewers keeper was again called into action on 37 minutes, acrobatically tipping over the bar after a Grocutt clearance riccocheted back off Ben Lord. Steve Spooner had the last goal effort of the half, smashing in David Holmes cross from the right, only for Derek Brown to make a headed goalline clearance. Albion made more changes at half time, Aaron Webster coming on for Smith, but not having one of his better games. Burton as a whole were struggling to string any kind of passing movement together, and they could have gone behind on 57 minutes, Paul Wagstaff's long range effort for Rothwell coming back off the post.Three minutes later Stride found himself in a good position to receive Marsden's cross at the other end, but his header flew over the bar. As the game wore wearily to a conclusion, Albion stepped up the pressure, but lacked the movement and invention in attack to threaten the visitors goal. The late arrival of Ruben Francis, on as substitute for Crosby, brought a spark of life to the game, and the youngster supplied the chance that should have given Albion three sorely needed points, just six minutes from time. Webster finished a mazy run out of midfield with a shot from the edge of the box which deflected straight into the path of Andy Garner, six yards out, with the open goal gaping in front of him. He missed. You didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Most laughed. There were no Australian soap stars performing in this Eton Park pantomime, but even Mrs Mangel from "Neighbours" would have scored from there!
Saturday 5th December 1998 Weary Pilgrimage as Brewers blown away Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Boston United 4 Burton Albion 0 Nigel Clough's team travelled through the frozen wastes of Lincolnshire looking for some pre-Christmas cheer to boost their ailing Dr. Martens League campaign, but they found cold comfort on a bitter Winter's afternoon at York Street. Albion had yet to keep a clean sheet in fifteen league games this season, and that dismal record was continued just 47 seconds into this match - Andrew Stanhope latching on to a header from former Ilkeston striker Matt Carmichael to drive a low shot into the corner of the net, giving the Brewers the worst possible start. Albion's response to this setback was initially positive - David Holmes coming closest to an equaliser with a canny lob on eight minutes which Boston keeper Bastock had to stretch to push round the post. Craig Smith was taken off injured soon after - replaced by Garner - but Albion continued to edge the possession. Holmes was brought down on the very edge of the box by Gowshall but appeals for a penalty were brushed aside. Meanwhile at the other end Goodwin had produced a good save to deny Carmichael, and Dave Benton was forced to make a goal line clearance on the stroke of half-time. But if the Brewers' attempts to build a comeback had proved flimsy in the first half, in the second - as a chill wind whistled in off the North Sea - they were simply blown away. Goodwin was immediately called into action again to deny Stanhope, but that player was on the scoresheet again just four minutes after the restart. Gary Childs - the former Wisbech Town manager making his Pilgrims debut- picked the ball up after Goodwin had pushed away a cross, and found Stanhope totally unmarked in the box, to fire home from 12 yards. Stanhope turned provider on 62 minutes - his cross headed powerfully into the roof of the net by Carmichael. And the rout was complete on 75 minutes. Darren Stride pushed Charles in the box, and Hardy handed the ball to Stanhope to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot. Burton looked totally demoralised, and only more fine goalkeeping from Goodwin - about the only player to shine on a wretched afternoon for the Brewers- denied Boston victory by an even bigger margin. Darren Stride hit the post late on, denying Albion a consolation goal they scarcely deserved after a display which underlines the need for a radical overhaul of the team Nigel Clough has inherited. Not only were Clough's men totally lacking in ideas, they were lacking in spirit, commitment, pride and all the other things which can at least go some way to warming the cockles of your heart on a freezing afternoon like this. The Brewers will go into the festive period hanging perilously above the relegation zone. With just one point in four league matches since he took control, the honeymoon period is well and truly over for Nigel Clough, and real change has to come soon if this season isn't to deteriorate into one long battle for survival.
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