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| Two precious home points dropped |
| The Brewers' title campaign
suffered a blow today as they could only manage a point against lowly Marine
at Eton Park. After a first half which was a complete non-event for the 1,580 crowd, Albion had ample chances to take the lead after the break. Darren Stride had three chances to score - he saw a header sail wide of the post, shot straight at the 'keeper from Moore's cross, and had another shot cleared off the line by Marine defender Steve Rimmer, in a frenetic period of activity in the visitors box. The referee came in for some stick for failing to take into account Marine's time-wasting tactics as the game wore on, but had he played half an hour's stopppage time the Brewers would still have probably failed to score today. Sean Farrell had a header of his own cleared off the line and failed to convert with an acrobatic overhead kick attempt, while player manager Nigel Clough shot wastefully high and wide with his one chance after coming on as substitute. The postponement of Lancaster's match at Whitby means the Brewers extend their lead at the top of the UniBond Premier Division to nine points, but their failure to kill off lower-ranked opposition at home raises the spectre of last season's capitulation to Margate - Lancaster now have five games in hand, and can gain ground on the Brewers as they take on Bishop Auckland on Tuesday, and Whitby Town on Saturday. Albion are without a league game for two weeks, as they turn their attention to the FA Trophy and next week's trip to Farnborough Town. |
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| Bay win maintains lead |
| A 3-1
win over Colwyn Bay in North Wales on Saturday maintained the Brewers' lead
at the top of the UniBond Premier Division, with a victory given
even more importance due to the fact that several of their promotion rivals
also picked up three points. Steve Evans gave the Brewers an early lead. When Christian Moore's shot was blocked by Bay 'keeper Paul Smith, Steve Evans was on hand to fire home the rebound. Former Manchester United man Deniol Graham equalized for the home side on 38 minutes, but Sean Farrell restored the Brewers' advantage, getting on the end of Darren Stride's shot, on the stroke of half time. |
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| Christian Moore's deflected
shot on 65 minutes made sure of the points for the Brewers. Elsewhere,
wins for Barrow, Lancaster and Altrincham kept the pressure on Nigel Clough's
team. Albion are next in action this Saturday when they entertain struggling Marine at Eton Park (3pm). |
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| Away draw in Trophy |
| Albion
have been handed an away draw in the Fourth Round of the FA Umbro Trophy
after Saturday's Third Round victory over Blyth Spartans. The Brewers will
travel to either Farnborough Town or Carshalton Athletic
on Saturday 2nd February. Farnborough, promoted from the Ryman League as champions last season, currently sit in a mid-table berth in the Conference, while Carshalton sit in a similar position in Ryman Division One. The two sides drew 1-1 at the Aimita Stadium (aka Cherrywood Road) on Saturday, with Carshalton snatching a dramatic injury time equaliser, and will replay at the Robins' Colston Avenue ground on Tuesday night. |
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| The
Brewers made it through to the last 32 thanks to a convincing
3-0 victory over Blyth Spartans on Saturday. A shaky start saw Albion
'keeper Matt Duke haul down Spartans striker Steven Stewart in the area,
but Duke redeemed himself by saving Paul Baker's penalty, and once Mark Blount,
back in the team after a loan spell at Worcester, headed in Aaron Webster's
corner on the half hour, there was no looking back for the Brewers. Aaron Webster converted from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time after Chritian Moore was tripped by Justin Keegan, and Sean Farrell's goal 18 minutes from time completed the scoring. The Brewers are next in action on Saturday when they travel to the North Wales coast to face Colwyn Bay in the UniBond Premier Division. |
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| Brewers return to action |
| A Christmas
and New Year period decimated by the cold weather sees the Brewers position
at the top of the table unchanged. Albion's match against Barrow on Saturday was one of many to fall victim to the weather, while title rivals Lancaster had a lucky escape when their match - the only one in the UniBond League to beat the freeze, was abandoned, with 15 minutes left, and the home side trailing Bishop Auckland 3-2 at the Giant Axe. The Brewers have an opportunity to ease themselves back into action with two cup ties this week. They visit Bedworth United in the Birmingham Senior Cup tonight (Tuesday) and then entertain Blyth Spartans in the FA Umbro Trophy Third Round at Eton Park on Saturday. |
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| News - January 2002 | << main >> |
