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| Round One to the Brewers |
| A
typical blood and guts local derby on Boxing Day ended with three more precious
away points for the Brewers in their first meeting in four years with old
rivals Nuneaton Borough. A stunner from skipper Darren Stride, and a goal early in the second half from Derby County loan signing Matt O'Halloran looked to have put Albion firmly in the driving seat, but ten-men Boro fought back to make it a nervy last twenty minutes for the Brewers. Nuneaton had the better for the early stages, with tricky midfielder Andy Ducros a particular threat, but the pattern of the game turned with the sending off of Boro loan midfielder Sam Ricketts on 26 minutes. |
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| Ricketts'
kamikaze lunge on John Burns left the Albion man needing treatment, and referee
Andre Marriner reaching for a deserved red card (although the home fans on
the Cock and Bear terrace didn't think so). Boro could have been down to ten men just two minutes later when Dale Anderson, a starter up front in place of the rested Christian Moore, raced past 'keeper Chris MacKenzie and looked certain to score before being felled by last Boro man Adam Cooper. Cooper escaped with a yellow card, and Albion failed to capitalize from the penalty spot, MacKenzie guessing the right way to save Aaron Webster's spot-kick. Boro's defences lasted only eight minutes though, Aaron Webster picking up O'Halloran's pass to swing in a cross from the left, and skipper Darren Stride capping an inspired performance in the thick of the Manor Park mud with a stunning reaction volley from the edge of the box, on his left foot, past a helpless MacKenzie and into the net. |
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Two
minutes into the second half and Albion had doubled their lead, player boss
Nigel Clough marking his entrance with a hand in a move culminating with
Stride setting up new boy Matt O'Halloran for a low, bobbling shot
from the edge of the box which crept inside McKenzie's right hand post. The Brewers looked to be firmly in control, but a combination of wasteful finishing and a policy of sitting back and letting their hosts attack them, allowed Boro to come back into the game. Like much of the rest of the match, the Nuneaton goal involved a certain amount of controversy, scorer Mark Quayle appearing to kick the ball out of Matt Duke's hands after the Brewers' 'keeper had saved the striker's initial shot. |
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the rain lashed down, Dale Anderson, substitute Christian Moore and Nigel
Clough all had chances to kill the game off in the latter stages but all
were denied by MacKenzie, and in the end the Brewers and their travelling
fans were relieved to hear the final whistle. A hostile reception from the home fans for the referee as he left the field, and tales of Boro' fans spitting at the Albion bench were added ingredients in this no love lost tussle, and we have it all to look forward to again at Eton Park on New Year's Day! |
| Before
then Albion have another opportunity to improve on their woeful home form
this season when Northwich Victoria are the visitors to Eton Park
on Saturday (both matches 3pm). In other news, defender Jason Kavanagh looks to have played his last game for the Brewers. The former Derby man has had his contract terminated by mutual consent and has been shipped out to the footballing wasteland known as Mickleover Sports. Nigel Clough cited problems with fitness, lack of form and demands of work as some of the reasons for releasing Kavanagh, although Albion have an option to recall him from the Northern Counties East League side if they get desperate. Meanwhile defender Mark Blount, another former regular struggling to hold down a first team place, has teamed up again with former boss John Barton. Blount has been dispatched for a second loan spell at Worcester City, where he will aid Barton in his attempt to guide the St George's Lane side to promotion. |
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| Talbot goal sinks Shaymen |
| Albion
ended their run of three straight defeats, and recorded their second victory
of the season over Halifax Town thanks to a Paul Talbot wonder-goal at the
Shay. After being on the backfoot for much of the game, Talbot's stunning 18-yard volley from Christian Moore's centre on the half hour proved enough to secure three welcome points which keep the Brewers away from the danger zone, the victory thanks in no small part to another inspired performance between the sticks from Matt Duke. Albion complete their pre-Christmas fixtures when Dagenham & Redbridge visit Eton Park this Saturday (3pm). |
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| Donny doom Brewers to sixth home reversal |
| The
Brewers received another indication of just how far they have to go to establish
themselves in the Nationwide Conference, after receiving a footballing lesson
from title contenders Doncaster Rovers, inflicting Albion's sixth home league
defeat of the season. The visitors looked to be firmly in the driving seat after establishing a two-goal lead before a penalty converted by Jason Kavanagh ten minutes from time gave the scoreline a more flattering aspect for the Brewers than the reality, which saw them comfortably beaten by a quality Rovers side. Donny, roared on by more than 800 travelling fans, quickly got into their stride, and took just 13 minutes to go in front. When the dangerous Andy Watson slung in a cross from the left, Jamie Paterson's shot came back off the woodwork, but Paul Barnes was on hand to convert from close range. |
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| Danny
Hudson shot wide, and Robert Gill had a shot saved by Duke as Rovers put
the pressure on the Brewers' defence, while at the other end a speculative
long-range effort from Nigel Clough and a Mark Blount header from Andy Sinton's
free-kick were the closest Albion came to a response. The game looked effectively beyond the Brewers two minutes into the second half when Robert Gill latched onto Paterson's miscue from another Watson cross to steer the ball past Duke from six yards. Gill went on to waste another scoring chance when one-on-one with Matt Duke, before Albion were handed an unlikely lifeline ten minutes from time. Ricky Ravenhill was somewhat harshly adjudged to have handled inside the box, and Jason Kavanagh converted the resultant spot-kick. The Brewers briefly threatened a late rally but Darren Stride's header straight at Donny 'keeper Andy Warrington was the closest they came, and Albion can have no complaints in being beaten by a better side. With just two home games left before the New Year they still have just one home league victory to their name, and face another tricky tie when they travel to the Shay to take on Halifax Town on Saturday. |
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| Away draw in Trophy |
| The
Brewers have been handed an away draw in the Third Round of this season's
FA Umbro Trophy. Albion, exempt to this stage of the competition this season since their elevation into the Conference, travel to UniBond League rivals of last season Wakefield & Emley, on Saturday 11th January 2003. Emley, who added the 'Wakefield' part of their name in the Summer to reflect their groundshare with Rugby League side Wakefield Trinity (to the disgruntlement of their fans) were one of just two teams to beat the Brewers in the their UniBond title-winning campaign last season, Albion throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to the Yorkshiremen a year ago this Saturday. Emley currently sit in third place in the UniBond Premier Division, behind Accrington Stanley and Bradford Park Avenue. |
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| A day to forget |
| After
the heroics of midweek, it was back to earth with a bump at Cherrywood Road
as the Brewers - showing signs of tiredness after the epic FA Cup replay
against Oldham - crashed to a 5-1 defeat to Farnborough Town, and a
miserable week for Stuart Reddington, who missed the decisive penalty on
Wednesday night, was completed with the defender being sent off. Ken Charlery headed Farnborough, celebrating their one hundredth home game in the Conference, into the lead six minutes before half time, and Reddington's red card, for a pull on Boro striker Rocky Baptiste, meant an uphill task for the weary Brewers in the second half. Lenny Piper converted from the penalty spot after being brought down by Duke four minutes into the second half, and although Christian Moore pulled one back for the Brewers, hopes of a comeback were instantly dashed with Charlery heading in his second goal. |
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| Charlery
completed his hat-trick with another header, and a Baptiste tap-in completed
a miserable afternoon for the Brewers. The Brewers included in their squad for the trip to Hampshire former Forest and Bristol City striker John Burns. Burns was released by Carlisle United in a cost-cutting exercise, and has signed for Albion on a non-contract basis. In other news, striker Lee Glover has parted company with the club. 32-year old Glover joined Albion in September on a short-term contract after being released by Macclesfield Town. Glover made an immediate impact with a stunning goal on his debut against Gravesend, but has struggled to make an impression since then. |
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| News - December 2002 | << main >> |
