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| January 2000 News and Reports |
| Date | Story | Type |
| 29-1-00 | "Aaron comes of age" | Report: Rothwell (home) |
| 27-1-00 | "Four goal blitz sinks VS" | VS Rugby (a), striker latest |
| 23-1-00 | "Clough inury blow" | Clevedon (a) detail, plus striker bid rejected |
| 18-1-00 | "Penalty agony for Albion" | Report: Workington (home) |
| 16-1-00 | "Stars come out in Cumbria" | Report: Workington (away) |
| 14-1-00 | "Barton wreaks revenge" | Report: Worcester (home) |
| 9-1-00 | "Bones grind out result" | Report: Rothwell (away) |
| 6-1-00 | "21st Century Garner" | Report: Ilkeston (home) |
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Saturday 29th January 1999 Aaron comes of age Dr. Martens League - Albion 2 Rothwell Town 1 Young star Aaron Webster sent his already buouyant stock soaring at Eton Park on Saturday, scoring a beauty and setting up David Holmes for a dramatic late winner as the Brewers averted a potentially embarassing home reversal to bottom side Rothwell Town. The Bones sneaked into a first half lead through one-time Brewers striker Scott Machin, and a dogged defensive display looked like paying dividends for the visitors when Andy Garner squandered a 56th minute penalty, continuing Albion's awful record from the spot this season. But two moves of pure class involving Webster ensured a thrilling climax and a favourable result. Rothwell went in front on 24 minutes, Machin's diving header from Gary Cook's cross leaving Goodwin standing, and they almost stunned the 894 crowd with a second just before the break, but Wayne Spencer shot wide from a clear scoring position. Albion had had dominated proceedings as in the corresponding fixture at Cecil Street three weeks ago, but as in that game and so many others, couldn't find a way through to goal. Andy Garner saw a header go wide early on and Aaron Webster brought a save out of visiting 'keeper John Hughes, but it was Darren Stride who came closest to scoring, his shot midway through the half blocked by Bones' defender Vallance. The blustering wind and lashing rain had died down somewhat by half time, which favoured the Brewers' passing game. David Holmes and Darren Stride both had shots on goal before Bones' defender Derek Brown was adjudged to have pulled back Andy Garner just inside the box. But the veteran striker blasted his spot-kick straight at Hughes - the fifth spot-kick out of seven that Albion have wasted this season. That miss only increased the flak hurled at the unfortunate Garner from the terraces, with 'fans choice' Anton Thomas - who came on to replace him on 78 minutes -showing little to justify a place in the starting line-up. By this time though, Albion had already found inspiration - and an equalizer - through neither Garner nor Thomas but Aaron Webster. The youngster picked up Clough's pass, jinked inside two defenders and from the narrowest of angles curled a beautifully measured shot inside the far post from 20 yards - as good a goal as any seen at Eton Park this season, and another feather in the cap of one of the club's rising stars. Rothwell's 'backs to the wall' approach looked to have earned them at least a point when Danny George arrived at the far post at exactly the right time, but turned his header the wrong side of the post, on 86 minutes. But the most dramaric moment was saved 'til the very end. The early leavers were already making their way into the night when Webster produced a second, decisive contribution, receiving Stride's pass this time before whipping in a perfect cross which David Holmes coverted with a bullet-like header.
Thursday 27th January 2000 Four goal blitz sinks VS Dr. Martens League Cup - VS Rugby 0 Albion 4 The Brewers cruised into the Quarter Finals of the Dr. Martens League Cup at Butlin Road last night, seeing off Eastern Division side VS Rugby with a four goal blitz. Albion had the game won by half time, Neil Glasser, marking his return to action from injury, starting the ball rolling by converting the rebound from Aaron Webster's effort on 18 minutes. Anton Thomas, making his first appearance in the starting line-up since 14th December, made it 2-0 just past the half hour mark, scoring from close range after good build-up play from Stride and Webster, and a David Holmes strike four minutes before the break gave the Brewers a more than comfortable cushion. Aaron Webster's 25-yard strike on 88 minutes completed a convincing victory for Albion, their first on their travels since the FA Trophy trip to Bamber Bridge in November. David Holmes and Danny George sustained minor strains in last night's match, but are expected to return for Saturday's home league game against Rothwell Town (3pm). Player-manager Nigel Clough is also expected to return to the side after recovering from the rib injury he sustained in Saturday's away tie at Clevedon. The injury was not as serious as first thought, but was enough to keep him out of action last night. Meanwhile, tonight's Burton Mail reports that Clough hopes to bring in a Football League striker on loan in time for Saturday's game. The Brewers' strike problems (though not in evidence last night) are compounded by the absence of Dale Anderson through injury. Clough told the Mail: "I'm reasonably happy with the squad at the moment, but Gary was watching a player in a match last night.. there's a possibility we might have someone on loan by the weekend." Clough last week made a substantial bid for Worcester City frontman Mark Owen, but the £50,000 price tag put on the 22-year old by the St. George's Lane club was dismissed as "silly money" by the Brewers boss. "I don't think it's too much of a secret that the chairman has money in his pocket," says Clough, "but there's no way we are prepared to pay over the odds.. for players, and at the moment I just want someone as cover for Dale." Sunday 23rd January 2000 Clough injury blow Dr. Martens League - Clevedon Town 0 Albion 0 A point from Saturday's goalless draw at Clevedon will come as precious little reward to the Brewers, who were dealt another blow to their morale when player-manager Nigel Clough was stretchered off the field in injury time of the game at the Hand Stadium. Clough was take to hospital with a rib injury which could keep him out of action for some time, which would be a major setback at a time when Albion are struggling to keep their season alive, having exited the FA Trophy on penalties in midweek (see below). The rest of the game was by all accounts the familiar story of plenty of chances created, but no-one to finish them off for the Brewers. Aaron Webster hit a post in the first half, and David Holmes had a shot saved by former Gloucester 'keeper Mark Hervin. Meanwhile, Nigel Clough's attempt to bring a much-needed proven goalscorer to Eton Park appear to have been rebuffed, after Worcester City reportedly turned down a big money bid for 22-year old striker Mark Owen. Clough tabled an offer in excess of the Brewers record transfer fee paid - £10,500 - for the player, who is Worcester's top scorer on 19 goals, and scored one of the goals in their 3-2 defeat of Albion at Eton Park last Tuesday. However, the offer has been rejected with Worcester chairman Dr. Michael Sorensen telling the Worcester Evening News: "Mark is not available for transfer unless someone is prepared to make a serious offer of £50-60,000, or if a football league club follows up interest in him." Worcester reportedly have debts of up to £500,000, but Dr. Sorensen says that once the sale of the club's ground, and the move to a new site goes ahead, Worcester will be "one of the richest clubs in non-league football." He adds: "There is no need to sell any of our better players, and we intend to get promoted by developing the team, not wrecking it." Worcester manager, and former Brewers boss John Barton has also stated his desire to hang on to Owen. He was quoted in Saturday's Burton Mail as saying "To sell our leading scorer in our situation would be to sell our ambition." Tuesday 18th January 2000 Penalty agony for Albion FA Trophy Third Round - Albion 0 Workington 0 (aet - 2-4 pens) A season which promised so much looks to be evaporating fast for the Brewers after they exited the FA Umbro Trophy at the hands of Workington Reds at Eton Park. Despite almost one-way traffic towards the visitors' penalty area, Albion once again failed to come up with the goods in front of goal, and after 120 minutes of stalemate, were sent packing from the competition after a penalty shoot-out. With the Brewers' dismal record from the penalty spot in normal time this season, and with the visitors having defended valiantly in both games to withstand sustained pressure from the Brewers, the odds always seemed to be on Workington to triumph in the lottery of a shoot-out, and so it proved to be. When Andy Garner blasted the first spot-kick against the bar, and the Brewers' second from Terry Henshaw was saved at full stretch by John Armfield - capping a brilliant display from the Reds' 'keeper, it was curtains for Albion as Graeme Carr and Wayne Johnson made no mistake with their penalties. Nigel Clough and Anton Thomas converted for the Brewers, but Matt Henney - who had made this replay necessary with his 83rd minute equalizer in the first match, found the net again, and it was left to Marc Green to drill home the kick which, despite Goodwin getting a touch to it, won the game for Workington. The lack of an out-and-out goalscorer has been the bane of the season so far for Albion, and this was no exception. Andy Garner fired over early in the first half, Webster hit the side netting, and Armfield was kept busy, denying efforts from Blount and Holmes. Webster came closest to breaking the deadlock but his header from Holmes's ball in came back off the bar. Clough, Garner, Stride and Holmes all had scoring chances as the Brewers continued to come forward in waves in the second half but a combination of poor finishing, the woodwork and the goalkeeping of Armfield kept the visitors in the game, and when extra-time couldn't produce a winner, it looked like being Workington's night, as Nigel Clough said after the match: "I don't believe in fate that much but you have to say on this occasion it just wasn't to be," he told the Burton Mail, "Over the two games against Workington we've done more than enough to warrant a place in the next round but it's them that's gone through." The result leaves the Brewers with apparently very little to look forward to for the rest of the campaign, barring a dramatic reversal of fortunes in the league, and an even more dramatic slump for the top teams. Sad to say, another season of disappointment looks on the cards.
(After extra-time - Workington win 4-2 on penalties)
Sunday 16th January 2000 Stars come out in Cumbria FA Trophy Third Round - Workington 1 Albion 1 There can't have been many more star-studded FA Trophy Third Round games on Saturday than this one. Apart from the prospect of former Liverpool team-mates Nigel Clough and Paul Stewart lining up for opposite sides out on the pitch, Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson was a surprise arrival in the stand at Borough Park, where the kick-off was delayed for ten minutes to allow in Workington's biggest gate of the season. The battle between the former Anfield teammates dominated the pre-match hype, and attracted Sky Sports to this former Football League venue, and veteran striker Stewart, recalled from his sick-bed to play after a bout of 'flu, obliged the cameras, and ensured there would be a re-match, setting up Matt Henney to equalize for the UniBond Division One side, five minutes from the end of what was a classic example of the 'game of two halves'. The Brewers' four-hour coach journey to deepest Cumbria didn't appear to have taken it's toll on the players, as Nigel Clough's re-organized team took a firm grasp of the game in the first half. Danny George was recalled to the heart of defence in place of Michael Forsyth, with Alan Davies and Jamie March also returning to the back four after being rested in Tuesday's defeat against Worcester. David Holmes and Terry Henshaw joined a five-man midfield, with Aaron Webster the lone frontman. Far from being a negative tactic, Albion showed much more attacking promise than in recent matches, with Holmes, making his first start since 'that' match at Havant & Waterlooville, turned in his best performance for a long time, and, together with the tricky Webster, was causing all kinds of problems for the Reds' defence. It could have been two or three-nil by the interval, with Darren Stride seeing a header deflected over, and Danny George having a shot saved by John Armfield, son of former Blackpool legend and radio personality Jimmy. And the Reds' 'keeper may take some of the blame for the one goal that did go in, Mark Blount nodding in David Holmes' perfectly delivered free-kick at the far post, with Armfield having apparently left it to go for a corner. For the so-called 'match of the season' at Borough Park, Workington had shown very little attacking spirit in the first half, but it was a different story after the break. Dawson had a shot wide and Goodwin had to be down quick to save from Matt Henney, as the Reds, with the 1,000+ crowd behind them, burst into life. It was end-to-end stuff at this point, and the Brewers too came close to killing the game off, with Pat Lyons, a half-time substitute in place of the 'feeling ill' Darren Stride, seeing his chipped shot clip the top of the crossbar. Anton Thomas came on to make his first appearance since before Christmas, replacing Webster, but it was at the other end where the late drama would arrive. Matt Henney was the scorer, but Paul Stewart the creator, jinking in and out of his markers before setting up his team-mate to head home the equalizer, Premier class ball-play from the former Tottenham and Liverpool man. Had Darren Wilson not wasted a shooting chance from distance, Workington might have got their dream finale. As it was, the Cumbrians make the return trip down to Eton Park on Tuesday (7.45pm), and the Workington Chairman should get his dream of meeting Brian Clough. Not sure if Bobby can make it though....? See also the Workington Reds site, with pictures from Saturday's game...
Friday 14th January 2000 Barton wreaks revenge Dr. Martens League - Albion 2 Worcester City 3 Saturday's FA Umbro Trophy trip to Workington (3pm) takes on even more importance after the Brewers' already flagging title hopes took a hammer blow on Tuesday night, as former Eton Park manager John Barton wreaked revenge on his old club. Barton's Worcester City team took a shock two goal lead before half time, and weathered an Albion fightback aftr the break to snatch all three points thanks to a stunning 15-yard strike from Paul Carty, five minutes from time, to bring the Brewers' unbeaten home record crashing down. That the visitors were 2-0 up at the break was hard to believe after 45 minutes when the ball hardly left the Worcester half, but the Brewers defence, the foundation stone of their impressive early season form, was, as so often has been the case lately, at fault, with Brewers boss Nigel Clough in no doubt as to where the blame lay: "We are just giving goals away at the moment ," Clough told the Burton Mail, "We simply can't prepare or legislate for individual errors. .. The nightmare goals we are conceding are undermining everything we are trying to acheive." In this case the nightmare was particularly vivid for goalkeeper Nick Goodwin, who hopelessly fluffed his attempt to clear Mark Blount's backpass, allowing Nathan Jukes to sneak in a minute before half-time to give Worcester a two goal cushion. This came just five minutes after the visitors had taken the lead through virtually their first attack of the whole match, Mark Owen getting on the end of Jon Purdie's long pass to fire past Goodwin. The Brewers, for all their possession, had caused very little threat to the Worcester goal, and it took some equally poor Worcester defending to let Darren Stride in to kick-start what looked like being a stirring home fightback, on 51 minutes. Neil Glasser's corner from the left wing was allowed to sail across the face of goal, leaving the Brewers skipper with the easiest tap-in he'll ever score. Ten minutes later and the scores were level, as Andy Garner battled his way past his marker to roll a low shot home, after picking up Mark Blount's through-ball - Garner's seventh goal in five games. An Albion win now looked on the cards, but the Brewers had suffered an injury blow when striker Dale Anderson limped off with a hamstring injury, to be replaced by David Holmes. The makeshift strikeforce of Garner and Holmes appeared a throwback to the Barton era, and the two 'old guard' couldn't conjur up a goal to send their former manager home empty handed, although with the lack of quality balls into the danger zone, a lot was being asked of them. The depressing feeling of deja-vu was complete five minutes from time, when Bradley Sandeman's free-kick from the right sailed across the outskirts of the box, to be lashed home from 15-yards by Paul Carty. The goal of the game, no question, and from being on the verge of three points which would have lifted them to second place in the league, the Brewers ended with nothing, and the promotion dream looking more distant than ever.
Sunday 9th January 2000 Bones grind out result Dr. Martens League - Rothwell Town 1 Albion 1 This one definitely goes down as two points lost, and two which the Brewers really couldn't afford to lose, especially in the light of other results. Tamworth's win at Halesowen sees them move above the Brewers in the table, while leading pair Bath and Boston both won. Against a team who look like they may finally succumb to gravity and go down this season, Albion had enough chances in the game to take all three points home from Northamptonshire. In the second half the Brewers virtually camped in the Rothwell half, but couldn't find a way through a Bones defence fighting for their Premier Division lives, in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Cecil Street. Aaron Webster, who earned a place in the starting line-up after Neil Glasser was ruled out through injury, has looked a lot more consistent player of late and was behind much of Albion's creative endeavours once again in this match. His cross was met by a glancing header from Andy Garner which sailed just wide, as the Brewers threw men forward in search of victory. Garner was also guilty of failing to convert from close range at the near post after a cross in from the right, Nigel Clough fired wide from the edge of the box, and substitute Craig Smith shot over the bar. By this time, the Brewers had already come from a goal down, Paul Hough giving the home side the lead on 8 minutes, after Goodwin could only parry Richard Preston's cross. But the lead lasted only five minutes, when Danny Marlow handled inside his own box, and Andy Garner buried his second penalty out of three taken this week. Clough and Garner had chances and even Mark Blount got in on the act with a long range effort, and it seemed as though Albion would have enough in their armoury to get a victory kicking down the slope on the notorious Cecil Street pitch in the second half. But they didn't, and the title dream seems to be slipping ever further away for the Brewers. Points from their games in hand are now imperative, starting with Tuesday night's home match against Worcester City (7.30pm). Worcester lost for the second game running on Saturday, going down 4-3 at home to Newport, but how ironic it would be if a team managed by John Barton were to strike a near-terminal blow to the Brewers' title ambitions!
Thursday 6th January 2000 21st Century Garner Veteran striker Andy Garner entered his third decade (but not as some might claim century) as a footballer in style on Monday, scoring a hat-trick as the Brewers crashed into the Year 2000 with a victory, sweeping aside Ilkeston Town in an enthralling Bank Holiday clash. And the Brewers No. 9 could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty as his goals propelled Albion to their ninth home league win of the campaign, in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Eton Park. That miss came from the second spot-kick of the game, Garner having converted the first with just four minutes on the clock, after Dale Anderson was tripped by Ilkeston 'keeper James Lindley. The game was your classic clash of styles, with the pure footballing instincts of Nigel Clough pitted against the more pragmatic and physical approach of Keith Alexander's Ilkeston. But there was scarcely a dull moment in a game packed with incident. The Brewers could, maybe should, have been two up by the quarter hour mark when Darren Stride arrived on the goal line to crash home Garner's cross, but the linesman's flag brought the skipper's celebrations to a premature end. Ilkeston too had their chances, most notably when Chris Hurst saw a header come back off the post just before half time, with Mark Blount heading Christian Moore's follow-up off the line. But it was after the interval that the game really sprung to life, with the Brewers doubling their advatage on 53 minutes. Darren Stride was the creator, robbing John Knapper before freeing Garner to fire home, in just one of many telling contributions from the inspirational Brewers skipper. It looked curtains for Ilkeston on 67 minutes, when a petulant outburst from Christian Moore resulted in his second yellow card of the game, but within seconds of play resuming the ten men had themselves a lifeline, former Albion, Rocester and Gloucester City player Tony Hemmings firing home a deflected shot from inside the box. But the otherwise solid Albion defence held firm, as at the other end of the field the Brewers sought to make their advantage in numbers tell. Aaron Webster looked dangerous after coming on as substitute, and the youngster won the Brewers' second penalty on 78 minutes, pulled down in the area by Gary Middleton. But Garner's tame spot kick was easily blocked by Lindley, the fourth penalty out of five Albion have missed this season. Six minutes later though, Garner had his hat-trick, with the 'super-sub' again orchestral in the build-up. Receiving Nigel Clough's ball out to the wing, Webster swung in a perfect cross for the Brewers centre forward to crash home, and it was game over.
The unbeaten home
record remains intact, but other results mean the Brewers gain no ground
on the top three, emphasising the need for an improvement in results away
from Eton Park - starting with Saturday's game at struggling Rothwell
Town (3pm). The following Tuesday (11th January - 7.30pm) sees Albion
back on home turf, when John Barton's Worcester City are the visitors,
in a match re-arranged following the postponement just before Christmas.
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