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| Season ends in defeat |
| The
Brewers ended the 2003-2004 season yesterday, battle-weary, jaded and on
the end of a 1-0 defeat, but with Conference status secured for another
season, and a new stadium on the horizon. Chairman Ben Robinson's post-match address in which he talked about the project and announced that fans would be able to view a special multimedia presentation on the new stadium during the Summer, was about the most interesting thing to have happened after a disappointing end to what has ultimately been an underwhelming season. For
visitors Dagenham & Redbridge, Conference title contenders in recent
years, this season has been even more of an anti-climax - yesterday's
victory saw them leap above the Brewers into 13th place, a modest success
for new manager John Still. |
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A
fairly open and entertaining first half hour saw chances for
both sides, Mark Janney coming closest for Daggers with a lob which came
back off the Burton cross bar, while Craig Dudley shot wastefully wide
with the goal at his mercy soon after. |
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What
proved to be the only goal of the game came ten minutes into the second
half, Leon Braithwaite converting Chris Moore's low cross from close range,
and from then on the game descended into a classic end-of-season torpor,
with both sets of fans wishing the final whistle.
The least surprising element of the afternoon was Aaron Webster's announcement as player of the season, a richly deserved honour for Webster, who has made giant leaps as a player this season, and has been an oasis of professionalism and consistency at times when so many of his team mates have looked disinterested. Conference
survival was the minimum ambition for this season, and that has been achieved,
but there's no doubt the fans crave a major clearout during the Summer
if the Brewers, new stadium and all, are to take the next step up to being
genuine Conference contenders. |
March/ April round-up The Brewers lifted themselves up from 17th to 14th in the table with a morale-boosting 4-1 away victory over Halifax Town on Tuesday 31st March. A Glen Kirkwood header and an Andy Ducros volley in the first half put Albion firmly in the driving seat at the Shay. Further goals from Dale Anderson and Robert Gill put game beyond Shaymen's reach, notwithstanding a late consolation for the home side from Colin Little. A Dale Anderson goal earned Albion the three points from their trip to doomed Leigh RMI on the following Saturday, and it was three wins in a row a week later, a long-range free-kick from Glenn Kirkwood, and a Craig Dudley header seeing off the challenge of Scarborough at Eton Park. The winning run was to be short-lived however, as the Brewers conceded an early lead to go down 2-1 to Barnet at Underhill on Easter Monday. Robbie Talbot gave Albion the lead in the first half but Liam Hatch headed in an equaliser for the home side shortly after the restart, and Ian Hendon converted from the penalty spot two minutes from time after Darren Stride's foul on Greg Pearson, to keep the Bees' play-off crusade on course. And
iIt was another away defeat for Albion five days later, Nick Burton and
John Mulhern giving Farnborough Town a deserved win over
Albion, Terry Henshaw getting the Brewers' goal at Cherrywood Road. |
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| News - April 2004 | << main >> |
