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| Seaside spoilers clinch injury time penalty win. |
| One
word... dire. |
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| Sugden sinks Brewers |
| Former
Brewer Ryan Sugden condemned Albion to defeat at the Deva Stadium, where
a spirited backs-to-the-wall display from injury-ravaged Albion couldn't
prevent Chester City from continuing their stately progress at the top of
the Nationwide Conference. Mark Wright's side looked every inch the title candidates, and were it not for some wasteful finishing, and a couple of fine saves from Matt Duke, the margin could have been higher in favour of the home side. Chester came out of the traps fastest and Sugden always looked the most dangerous weapon in their arsenal, heading wide of the post on 15 minutes, and being denied by the onrushing Matt Duke soon after, while fellow striker Michael Twiss fired into the side netting. |
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| Aaron
Webster fired a long-range effort narrowly wide in Albion's first real effort
on goal on 33 minutes, but it was still somewhat against the run of play
that the Brewers took the lead soon after, Nigel Clough - at the heart of
all the Brewers' best play in this match - setting free Andy Sinton down
the left from a free-kick, and his devestating cross into the box being met
with an equally wicked header from Lee Glover. It was always going to be a battle for the Brewers in the second half, and so it proved to be once Chester had levelled thanks to a stroke of good fortune on 55 minutes. Kevin McIntyre's free-kick from just outside the box hit the Albion wall but somehow managed to break free to the waiting Ryan Sugden, who made no mistake in firing past Matt Duke. The Brewers' job was made even more difficult when Mark Blount limped off with a twisted knee on 65 minutes, Sean Farrell being called off the bench as a makeshift central defender, and when rookie defender Aaron Johnson was thrown into the fray ten minutes from time the end, the size of the task facing a patched-up Burton team was thrown into sharp focus. By that time, Chester had seized the lead with a move which bore all the hallmarks of a side brimming in confidence and riding high in the table. Former Liverpool man Steve Harkness robbed Jason Kavanagh on the right flank before sending Ryan Sugden free with a killer pass, the former Oldham Athletic man racing clear and keeping his head to slot home his second from the edge of the box - a lightning counter-attack followed by a ruthless finish. To their credit, the Brewers dug into all their reserves of fighting spirit and determination in an attempt to salvage a point in the latter stages, and laid siege to the Chester penalty area in a frantic final period culminating in four minutes of injury time. Steve Evans had a header saved by City 'keeper Wayne Brown, Christian Moore came agonisingly close to getting a boot to Evans' cross at the far post, and Lee Glover doggedly carved out space for himself on the edge of the box but could only direct his shot into the arms of the 'keeper. Three could be few arguments about the result, and with yet more new signings in the pipeline Chester look like making a serious stab at the Conference title this season, but a battling display by the Brewers earned them a standing ovation from the travelling army, who as Kevin Keegan once said would 'luv it, just luv it' if their team can claim their first home victory of the season at the expense of former Dr. Martens League adversaries Margate at Eton Park on Saturday (3pm). |
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| 'Port point |
| Albion
returned from the Lancashire coast with a creditable away point thanks to
Sean Farrell's equaliser 20 minutes from time at high flying Southport. The Brewers had gone into the lead on 19 minutes with Darren Stride converting Aaron Webster's corner with a glancing header, but new recruit Lee Glover, making his first start for Albion, spurned the chance to double the lead in a one-on-one with the 'Port 'keeper, and the home side had drawn level soon after with a headed goal of their own, Steve Soley directing Chris Lane's cross in off the bar. Southport took the lead on 18 minutes into the second half, and once again it was a setpiece which proved to be the Brewers' undoing - Marc Lloyd-Williams being allowed space and time to head in Dean Howell's corner. The home lead was short-lived though. |
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| Sean
Farrell was thrown into the fray in place of Craig Dudley, and wasted no
time in making his mark on the game, converting Glen Kirkwood's cross with
a killer shot from 15 yards. Nigel Clough can be satisfied with a point from what looked a tricky proposition on paper, and his side face an even tougher examination on Tuesday evening when they travel to the Deva Stadium to take on league leaders Chester City (7.45pm). Meanwhile, Clough has said that, following the capture of Glover last week, another new signing - possibly a defender - could be in the pipeline. The Brewers' injury worries continued on Saturday with Darren Stride limping off injured towards the end of the game at Haig Avenue, while long-term absentee Darren Wassall suffered a setback when he had to pull out of last week's reserve clash with Nuneaton Borough, after suffering soreness in his problem knee. Clough told the Burton Mail: "We've got Darren (Wassall) out of the team, Terry Henshaw with an ankle that's black and blue and the other lads at some point are going to need a rest. I've made a couple of calls this week and I'll be looking to follow them up with firmer enquiries after the weekend." |
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| Glover makes his mark |
| New
recruit Lee Glover made an instant impact at Eton Park on Tuesday night,
hitting a stunning equaliser to earn the Brewers a point against Gravesend
& Northfleet, but after five home matches Albion are still searching
for their first home victory on home soil. Once again, as on so many occasions this season, a goal from a set-piece proved Albion's undoing - Jimmy Jackson providing the cross from a short free kick, and former Dover Athletic man Jimmy Strouts powering home a header from some distance. Albion fought back gamely, and were agonisingly close to getting the equaliser on the stroke of half time, Aaron Webster slinging in a cross from the left and Steve Evans' goalbound header being tipped onto the bar by Fleet 'keeper Paul Wilkerson, the ball bobbling on the crossbar before going behind for a corner which came to nothing. |
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| New
signing Lee Glover was thrown into the fray a minute into the second half.
32-year old Glover, a former team-mate of Nigel Clough at Forest, recently
released by Macclesfield Town, joined the Brewers on a month's contract,
with Clough hinting that the move could be made permanent if the striker
impresses. He certainly wasted no time in making an impression. Just five minutes after coming on, the newcomer received Steve Evans' raking crossfield pass, cut inside his marker and unleashed a stunning left-foot drive into the roof of the net from just inside the box. Evans and a lively Andy Sinton came closest to finding a winner for Albion, with Wilkerson again having to be on top of his game to keep out a long-range effort by the latter, but once again the home victory remained elusive. Albion head off on their travels again this week, beating a familiar path up the M6 to take on Southport at Haig Avenue on Saturday, and Chester City at the Deva Stadium on Tuesday. |
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| Daggers put to sword | ||
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| Mark Stein's third minute penalty comes back off the post - pic: ian leech : bafc official |
| The
Brewers continued their fine away form this season (Leigh RMI notwithstanding),
after coming from behind to record an impressive 2-1 win over Dagenham &
Redbridge at Victoria Road. Dagenham, who only missed out on the Conference championship last season on goal difference (and to a side proven to have cheated their way to the title), were one of the favourites again this season, but after a bright start to the season have slumped dramatically, this being their fourth defeat in a row. It could have been different had Mark Stein converted from the penalty spot with just three minutes on the clock. Stein's goalbound shot had been blocked by Mark Blount, with the referee seeing a handball, but the resultant penalty riccocheted back off the post, with Brewers' 'keeper Matt Duke beaten all ends up. Dagenham had bossed the early stages of the first half and took a deserved lead on 17 minutes, Duke pushing out Ross Johnson's header from a left wing cross, but unable to prevent Stein from sending the ball back past him and into the net. With the Daggers moving in for the kill, Paul Terry wasted a chance from close range, and Duke saved Albion from going two-down with a spectacular save from Stein's 18-yard volley. The Brewers were glad to have kept the scoreline down to 1-0 at half time, and capitalised on a less adventurous approach from the home side in the second half, with the equaliser arriving 13 minutes after the restart. Dagenham's clearance was hoisted back into their own area by Jason Kavanagh, and with the home defence caught unawares, manager Nigel Clough crept in to slot home past Daggers 'keeper Tony Roberts. Albion had their tails up now, and ten minutes later found themselves in front, thanks to a bizarre goal from Aaron Webster. Webster's inswginging corner from the right sonehow crept into the net with the help of only the slightest of deflections. Dagenham threw on the substitutes in an attempt to salvage something from the match, and Brewers substitute Sean Farrell had to clear Ashley Vickers' header off the line, but Albion survived a second home onslaught to claim another fine away victory, and in the process inflicting more misery on Daggers boss Garry Hill. The Brewers will now be looking to build on this result by claiming their fist home victory of the season, and avenging last season's FA Cup defeat, when Gravesend & Northfleet visit Eton Park on Tuesday night (7.45pm). |
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| The wait continues... |
| That
first home victory in the Nationwide Conference remains frustratingly elusive
for the Brewers, held to a 2-2 draw by Halifax Town at Eton Park today. Albion recovered well after trailing to a spectacular Ryan Mallon effort, with a spirited first half performance capped by Christian Moore's sixth goal of the season and a Jason Kavanagh penalty, but Simon Parke's 66th minute effort was enough to salvage a point for the Shaymen, who could have taken all three after having the better of an uninspiring second period. |
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| Nigel
Clough handed a full debut to striker Craig Dudley, and the new boy's partnership
with Moore - enjoying the best form of his Brewers career - looked likely
to pay dividends. Moore dragged a shot across the face of goal on 11 minutes
after receiving Darren Stride's header down, and the former Ilkeston Town
man's tireless running salvaged possession from what looked like a certain
goal kick five minutes later, allowing his new strike partner Dudley the
chance to fire in a shot from the tightest of angles. But the Brewers' early promise counted for nothing when the ball fell to Ryan Mallon on 18 minutes, the Halifax striker curling a sweetly struck 25-yarder out of reach of the despairing Matt Duke and into the net. To their credit, Albion responded in positive fashion, Moore almost finding an instant reponse, bringing a save out of Lee Butler, and shooting just wide at the second attempt. Craig Dudley's lightning quick break and shot forced Butler to tip over soon after, and Glen Kirkwood also tested the visitors 'keeper, as Albion kept the pressure on the former Football League side. |
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The
breakthrough came on 33 minutes - Terry Henshaw slinging in a left foot cross,
Dudley getting the touch on and Christian Moore controlling the ball
well before firing home from the left hand edge of the six yard box. Three
minutes later and the Brewers were in front, Moore again causing problems
in the Halifax box and forcing Alistair Asher into a foul. Jason
Kavanagh confidently swept home the resultant penalty. This was the high water mark for Albion though, as an entertaining first half gave way to a scrappy second period which saw the Brewers on the backfoot for long spells. |
| The
equaliser came, as so many goals conceeded by Albion have this season, from
a setpiece - Steve Bushell's left hand corner being headed goalward by Paul
Stoneman, with former Southport striker Simon Parke making sure from
close range, 66 minutes on the clock. Matt Duke had to tip a headed effort from Parke over the bar, and the Shaymen's number 16 almost set up a winner with an audacious overhead kick on the edge of the box, as the Shaymen looked to snatch all three points, which they would have done were it not for Terry Henshaw's goal line clearance from Stoneman's header in injury time. Christian Moore had minutes earlier had the ball in the net for Albion with an effort reminiscent of his goal at Telford last week, but the celebrations of Moore, and the home crowd, were cut short by the linesman's flag, and in the event a draw was probably all Albion deserved from the match. They now have to wait until a week on Tuesday, 17th September, and the visit of Gravesend & Northfleet, to attempt to finally break their home duck - before then there's the tricky prospect of a trip to Dagenham & Redbridge a week today, when the Daggers will be looking to get today's 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Doncaster Rovers out of their system. |
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| No home comfort for kamikaze Brewers |
| Albion's
schizophrenic form continued on Tuesday night as, just days after appearing
to have got things back on track with a victory at Telford, they
crashed to a 3-2 home defeat against the Conference's basement side. Forest Green Rovers arrived at Eton Park with zero points and just one goal from their opening five matches, but left with three points for new manager Colin Addison to build on when he takes charge of Rovers for the first time at Morecambe on Saturday. It was a game packed with goalscoring chances, most of them falling to the Brewers, who were once again made to pay for some kamikaze defending. |
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| Albion
started the brighter of the two sides, with Andy Sinton and Paul Talbot both
blazing shots narrowly over veteran Rovers 'keeper Steve Perrin's goal in
the early stages, although there was a warning shot for Albion when Kayode
Odejayi had the ball in the Albion net, but the 'goal' was ruled out
for offside. Christian Moore came close latching onto Glen Kirkwood's touch on before firing in a low shot saved by Perrin, but the Brewers were rocked seven minutes before half time when slipshod defending allowed Alex Meechan's cross to find Carl Heggs, who's header looped over the stranded Matt Duke from just inside the box. |
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Moore
and Darren Stride both had chances to level in the dying stages of the first
half, but Albion's task was made even harder when 'Green were allowed another
even softer goal two minutes after the restart - Meechan again the supplier
and this time Odejayi given time and space to find the net with the simplest
of tap-ins. The arrival of home debutant Craig Dudley as substitute for the innefective Aaron Webster sparked a home fightback as the former Oldham man caused the Rovers defence problems with his pace. Christian Moore was again denied by the 'Green 'keeper, before Albion finally got on the mark, Jason Kavanagh dispatching his penalty out of reach of Perrin after Kirkwood was brought down by Jon Richardson. |
| Perrin
had to be alert to deny Nigel Clough's diving header, but was at fault for
Albion's equaliser soon after - Stride getting underneath the 'keeper's sliced
clearance to feed Christian Moore, who chipped the 'keeper from just
outside the box. At their flowing best now, and with the home fans urging them on, Albion looked likely to push on for the winner, but instead found themselves rocked back on their heels within a few minutes of levelling - Alex Meechan the provider turned goalscorer getting on the end of Paul Futcher's cross after a lightning quick counter-attack which exposed all too vividly Albion's glaring defensive frailties. Substitute Sean Farrell had the chance to salvage something from the match but blazed wastefully high from six yards out in injury time, and the Brewers were condemned to their third defeat in four games, and another cold slap across the face for Clough's Conference new-boys. Still searching for their first home victory of the season, Albion entertain newly relegated Halifax Town at Eton Park on Saturday (3pm). |
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| Bucking the trend |
| Albion
put their two defeats of last week behind them to get their Conference campaign
firmly back on track with a convincing 2-0 victory over Telford United at
the New Buck's Head on Saturday. Two quality goals from Christian Moore and Dale Anderson capped an assured performance by the Brewers against a struggling Bucks side who are still without a win after five games. The three points however came at a price for Albion, who saw both goalscorers, as well as defender Mark Blount, limp off with injury. |
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| On
a bowling green playing surface at Telford's impressive, if half-finished,
stadium, Albion started the brighter with Paul Talbot firing an early warning
shot across the Bucks' bows, his 20-yard effort going just over the bar,
and Aaron Webster and Glen Kirkwood both worried veteran Telford 'keeper
Paul Edwards, before Christian Moore put the Brewers in front with an exquisite
goal on 26 minutes. Receiving Paul Talbot's crossfield pass on the right hand edge of the box, Moore looked to have few options available to him, but stunned the home team, and sent Albion's travelling fans into raptures, by expertly curling his shot around the defender and into the far corner of the net, out of reach of a despairing Edwards. David Brown almost found an instant response for the home side, bringing a save out of Matt Duke with Telford's first shot on target on 28 minutes, but Albion continued to have the better of the play in the second half, although Steve Palmer almost produced a goal which would have rivalled Moore's, his 25-yard thunderbolt forcing Duke - back to his best - to tip round the post at full length. |
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The
game degenerated into a scrappy affair as it moved into the later stages,
with frequent stoppages caused by injuries, but there was time for one more
ray of light from the Brewers, who doubled their lead eight minutes from
time. Nigel Clough nodded the ball down to skipper Darren Stride, who fed a perfectly timed ball through to Anderson, who kept his nerve to coolly slot past Edwards from just inside the box. Substitute Terry Henshaw had to clear Paul Moore's effort off the line in stoppage time, but Telford never really looked like taking anything from this game once Albion had gone in front. |
| With
Craig Dudley making his Brewers debut with a late substitute appearance -
the striker having proven his fitness to enable his transfer from Oldham
Athletic to be completed last week - it would have been a perfect afternoon
for Albion were it not for those three injuriy worries. Dale Anderson's is the most serious of the three - he pulled a hamstring in injury time in this match, and is definitely ruled out of Tuesday night's Eton Park clash with bottom side Forest Green Rovers (7.45pm). Moore and Blount both sustained knocks, but could be back for Tuesday's game. Forest Green will arrive at Eton Park as a club in some turmoil, having sacked manager Nigel Spink following Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Chester City. |
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| News - September 2002 | << main >> |
