Heartbreak at the Hawthorns
If the match at Wembley was a great day out for Albion fans, the replay at West Bromwich the following Tuesday was even better in terms of drama, excitement and atmosphere. Although there were less people watching than at Wembley, the closer confines of the Hawthorns on a damp spring evening made for a much more intense atmosphere, as the Brewers fans out-numbered, and outsung Harriers followers in West Brom's biggest crowd of that season - 15,685. The replay also had what was missing at Wembley - goals. Albion were the first to find the net - and some specatators were still finding their seats after the kick-off was delayed for fifteen minutes due to crowd congestion, when Paul Groves headed into the Kidderminster net, but was adjudged to have fouled Harriers defender Kevin Collins - a future Brewer, and one of several playing in the two matches who would switch between the two clubs in the following years.
Paul Groves heads home for the Brewers, just a minute into the replay at the Hawthorns, but the celebrations are short lived - the goal is disallowed.
Albion once again defied the gulf between the Conference and Northern Premier League by more than matching Kidderminster in a breathtaking performance of guts and spirit. Harriers had to deal with long periods of pressure from Albion, and Neil Dorsett, who had delayed his return to New Zealand football to play in this match, was a constant torment to John Barton down the left flank. However, luck was on the side of the Conference team, as was evident by their first goal. Striker Paul Davies' low shot took a cruel deflection off Alan Kamara to leave Albion keeper Martin New rooted to his goalline, and give Kidderminster a half-time lead.
Paul Davies fires Harriers in front on 31 minutes, thanks to a deflection off Alan Kamara (left) - Steve Essex watches on helplessly
Albion came out in the second half attacking the Birmingham Road Kop, where their supporters were massed, and, roared on by the travelling army, continued to play out of their skins in a thrilling contest of end to end football. But all their possession could not produce the goal they strived so hard for, and the Brewers' hard work seemed to have been in vain, when Harriers made it 2-0 on 78 minutes, Davies again the scorer. Far from being disheartened though, Brian Fidler's team simply dug even deeper into their reserves of determination and spirit, and within a minute they were back in the game - Paul Groves leaping above Harriers' tiring defence to head in a cross from skipper David Vaughan.
Albion had conceded a second goal just a minute before, and looked dead and buried, when Paul Groves headed this goal to send the match into a nerve-jangling last ten minutes.
Harriers were stung into immediate response, as a rollercoaster ride of a game reached a thrilling climax. Star striker Kim Casey had a goal disallowed, and Paul Davies came close to scoring a third, but the climactic moment of the night was to come at the other end of the field. With just four minutes left on the clock, Kidderminster defender Graham McKenzie handled inside his own area from another Groves header, and, to the jubilation of the Albion fans , the referee awarded a penalty. Another thirty minutes of extra-time looked inevitable now as Paul Bancroft, influential throughout both games, and an assured penalty-taker all season, stepped up to place the ball on the spot. The tension was almost unbearable as the Brewers' fans packed in behind the goal, willed their man to score. But...football being the cruel game that it is sometimes, Harriers keeper Arnold guessed correctly which way Bancroft would shoot, and got down to tip the Brewers midfielder's kick round his right-hand post.
Agony for Albion, and especially for Paul Bancroft, as he suffers one of those "Gareth Southgate" moments that footballers dread. The celebrations of the Brewers fans turns to despair as Kidderminster keeper Jim Arnold saves the spot kick, with four minutes left on the clock, to win the Trophy for Harriers.
There was no way back now, and for all their Herculean efforts, the Brewers were not blessed with the kind of luck a team needs to win trophies. As three and a half utterly absorbing hours of football reached its final seconds, the heavens opened. The Albion fans were now calling for the game to be postponed -maybe God was on their side after all! No such luck. The referee's whistle blew, and the Trophy was Kidderminster's. At the final whistle there was despair for the eleven Albion heroes, especially for a tearful Paul Bancroft. But for the Albion fans, the result barely mattered - the Brewers' performance had done them proud, and there were emotional scenes after the match. Harriers lifted the Trophy but Albion voices were still singing loud and proud, as the brave Brewers received the acclaim of the whole stadium, taking part in a deserved lap of honour. Beaten they might have been, but the manner of their defeat made them heroes in the memories of Albion fans, who even today -ten years on- must agree - "This was their finest hour".
Albion's beaten heroes- a shattered looking Paul Bancroft 2nd left Full team: (back l-r) Brian Fidler (manager), Dave Redfern, Dave Wood, Paul Groves, Alan Kamara (obscured), Nigel Simms, Clive Patterson, Bob Gauden (front)- Steve Essex, Paul Bancroft, David Vaughan, Neil Dorsett, Gil Land, Martin New, Joe Mullholland (trainer)
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. Tuesday 12th May 1987.
FA Trophy Final, Replay
Burton Albion 1-2 Kidderminster Harriers
Attendance: 15,685
Replay teams:
| Albion | Harriers | |
| Martin New | 1 | Jim Arnold |
| Alan Kamara | 2 | John Barton |
| Nigel Simms | 3 | Kevin Collins |
| David Vaughan (c) | 4 | Clive Boxall |
| Steve Essex | 5 | Colin Brazier (Hazelwood, 62) |
| Gil Land | 6 | Martin Woodall |
| Paul Groves | 7 | Graham McKenzie (c) |
| Paul Bancroft | 8 | Kim Casey |
| Bob Gauden | 9 | Paul Davies |
| Dave Redfern (Wood, 70) | 10 | Mick Tuohy |
| Neil Dorsett | 11 | Adrian O'Dowd |
| Dave Wood | 12 | Malcolm Hazlewood |
| Clive Patterson | 14 | John Pearson |
That miss again, freeze-framed for posterity (Burton Mail, Wednesday 13th May 1987)
