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| August 1999 News | |
Tuesday 31st August 1999 3 more points for Brewers Nigel Clough described it as "the worst we've played this season but.. our most battling performance." A determined showing from the Brewers in front of a big Bank Holiday Monday crowd of 1,304 at Eton Park kept Albion within striking distance of the leaders, with a terrific finish from Anton Thomas on the half hour proving the only goal in a touch, physical battle with King's Lynn. Thomas's goal came in a first half in which Albion's attempts at passing football were constantly hampered by a physical Linnets side which had four players booked, including ex-Brewer Tony Marsden. Thomas latched onto what appeared to be a lost cause after Jamie March's cross looked to be bouncing out for a corner, but the big striker, signed from Nuneaton in the Summer, swivelled and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Chuck Martini in the visitors goal. Mark Blount also came close to scoring when he controlled the ball well on the edge of the box and curled his shot just over the bar, before David Holmes wasted a chance to give Albion a two goal cushion at half time, rolling his penalty kick wide of Martini's left hand upright. This after Dave Robinson was adjudged to have brought down Stride in the box. The second half was a tighter and less physical affair, with the Brewers watertight defence denying Lynn too many opportunities to threaten Nick Goodwin's goal. As the game meandered towards a conclusion, Albion were put on a play of classic Clough passing triangles to keep the ball in the corners, and had chances of their own to score, substitute Terry Henshaw - on for the ineffective Holmes - coming closest. Like the man said, it wasn't the best game we've seen this season, but if Albion can continue to show the classy football, sweeping passing moves and increasingly resilient defending they've displayed so far, the crowds will surely continue to come to Eton Park. Starting with next Tuesday's mouth watering clash (7.30pm) with second placed Boston United - knocked off their perch at the top of the table after losing at Ilkeston on Saturday. Before then Albion travel to the Broadfield Stadium to play Crawley on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). Sunday 29th August 1999 Brewers are a 'Glass act' The Brewers' encouraging start to the season continued on Saturday with an away win at Dorchester, Neil Glasser's 18-yard effort in the 19th minute the first goal the in-form Magpies had conceded all season. Describing the goal - his first since signing from Grantham Town in the summer - to Centre FM, Glasser said "It was a lovely weighted pass from David Holmes..and to be honest it was a bit of a cross shot and fortunately for me it flew in the top corner." The Brewers midfielder expressed surprise at how much space Dorchester allowed their opponents, and said the three points were well deserved in a season where luck hasn't always been on their side: "We've played well in every match - we've been unfortunate that we haven't picked up the points we deserved." Glasser was referring to the opening day encounter at Bath, and last Monday's 2-2 draw at Worcester, where only a late goal from Dave Richards denied the Brewers all three points. Worcester took the lead against the run of play when Danny George headed into his own net on 36 minutes, but within five minutes Albion had turned the tables. First Dale Anderson reacted quickly to head in when Nigel Clough's dipping shot came back off the crossbar, then David Holmes latched on to Glasser's defence-splitting pass to lob Steadman. The Brewers now aim to preserve their 100% home record - which continued with the 1-0 defeat of Weymouth - when King's Lynn provide the Bank Holiday opposition at Eton Park (kick-off 3pm). An away trip to Crawley follows on Saturday, and then Boston United - the only team in the division with a 100% record - visit Eton Park next Tuesday. Wednesday 18th August 1999 Brewers' Goal-den Jubilee Albion got their 50th Anniversary campaign at home underway in style on Tuesday evening, and put the disappointment of Saturday's defeat at Bath behind them. The Brewers beat Gloucester City - ironically the opponents in their first ever match, at Wellington Street in 1950, 3-0, with Anton Thomas capping a fine home debut to score the Brewers' third. Dale Anderson's 29th minute goal sparked into life a previously uneventful contest, Alan Davies blasted in from 12 yards to make it 2-0, and Thomas grabbed the third before receiving a standing ovation from the near-1000 crowd as he made way for Andy Garner midway through the second half. Gloucester can count themselves unlucky with the result, and Albion have the woodwork, and some acrobatic saves from Nick Goodwin to thank for preserving their margin of victory, but on the whole this was another encouraging performance, with manager Nigel Clough at the heart of some slick passing movement from the Brewers, who - unlike on Saturday - tucked away their chances with relish. The Brewers were due to play Weymouth at Eton Park on Saturday, before the customary early-season visit to St. Georges Lane to play Worcester City on Monday, 23rd August with Graham Allner's team so far failing to live up to their billing as pre-season favourites. They lost both their opening games - 3-1 to newly promoted Clevedon Town, and 2-0 to Atherstone at Sheepy Road on Tuesday. Saturday 14th August 1999 New-look Brewers need finishing Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Bath City 2 Burton Albion 1 How Burton Albion came away from the first match in their 1999-2000 campaign empty handed will baffle the supporters who basked in bright sunshine at Twerton Park on Saturday. In fact, three points for Nigel Clough's team would have been the only accurate reflection of a game the Brewers dominated, with the Bath goal under virtual siege for long spells of the second half. That they were two goals ahead by half time, Bath owed only to some terrible defending of crosses from the Albion defence. For the fact they managed (and only just) to hang on for a win, Paul Bodin's side have to thank some equally wasteful finishing from the Brewers' strikeforce, however some neat passing movement, and the sheer number of chances that Nigel Clough's new-look team carved out for themselves at least gave some promise that we're not to see another early season flop in the manner of recent seasons. This reporter was still crawling through traffic on the M5 when Paul Bodin's cross on 16 minutes was bundled over the line by Graham Colbourne, but a repeat performace was generously laid on by the Albion defence, when Mike Davis's inswinger deep into first half injury time was headed home by Scott Walker - totally unmarked in the Burton area. Despite setting themselves this handicap, Albion - the better side in the first half - stepped up another gear after the interval, and were soon causing problems in the Bath box. When Darren Stride's glancing header from a Holmes cross crept inside the post on 53 minutes, an equaliser looked inevitable, and the chances were soon coming thick and fast. Anton Thomas awoke from his first half slumber to power in a header tipped over by impressive City keeper Elliot Jackson, and soon after the debutant striker's shot on the turn sailed just wide of the post. David Holmes wasted one chance, then chipped a second inches over the bar, before the best scoring opportunity of the game arrived on 83 minutes. Nigel Clough cheekily rolled a low free-kick into the box, where Danny George blasted straight at the keeper. The ball dropped straight at the feet of Darren Stride - an open goal staring him in the face, yet somehow the Brewers captain managed to fire his shot over the bar from three yards out. A commonly-run piece of TV footage of Albion's most famous season ticket holder - Brian Clough - in his prime, sprung to mind. It's the one where he bawls at one of his players: "For missing the target from there you want bloody shooting!" Even more dramatic goalmouth action was to follow in injury time, when - in a frantic scramble inside the six-yard box, Dale Anderson and Anton Thomas both headed against the bar, with the Bath defence desperately attempting to scramble the ball to safety - yet somehow only an injured Bath defender ended up in the back of the net. Then you knew it wasn't to be our day. Bath supporters already believing the fates are on their side might be further encouraged by the fact that, the last time Albion lost on the opening day - in 1993 - was to Dover Athletic, who went on to win the Championship. There's a long way to go yet, but if Albion create as many chances - and show marking as slack as this on Tuesday evening against Gloucester, then a repeat of last season's 5-3 scoreline looks on the cards. Brewers: Goodwin, Davies, March, Glasser, Blount, George (Garner), Stride, Anderson, Thomas, Clough, Holmes Subs: (not used): Henshaw, Lyons Bath: Jackson, Clode, Bodin, Harrington, Towler, Lloyd, Davis, Tisdale, Colbourne, Paul, Walker Subs: James, Skidmore, Fraser |
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