Change:  Move to:

20.01.2007 at 15:00 Pirelli Stadium

Attendance : 1632

Burton Albion

1 - 0

St Albans City

Referee : Sean Cummings Nationwide Conference

Goalscorers
Aaron Webster (45) None.
Opening squads
Kevin Poole
Gary Rowett
Aaron Webster
Andy Corbett
Darren Tinson
Darren Stride (c)
Daryl Clare
Keith Gilroy
Danny Holmes
Paul Carden
Lloyd Opara
Paul Bastock
Dean Cracknell
Gary Elphick
Matt Hann
Ranbir Marwa
Lee Clarke
Damien Batt
Djoumin Sangare
Leon Archer
Chris Seeby
Patrick Ada
Substitutes
Ryan Austin
Shaun Harrad
Terry Henshaw
Jon Shaw
John Brayford
Paul Hakim
Simon Martin
Chris Watters
Ricky Perks
Lee Flynn
Substitutions
Shaun Harrad -> Lloyd Opara (75) Chris Watters -> Chris Seeby (70)
Simon Martin -> Lee Clarke (70)
Paul Hakim -> Leon Archer (70)
Yellow cards
Gary Rowett (45) Damien Batt (12)
Chris Watters (81)
Red cards
None None.
Other statistics
15 Shots 6
9 Shots on goal 5
7 Offsides 1
11 Corner kicks 6
15 Free kicks 15
0kk Penalties 0
Match report

Leon Archer takes on the Burton defence
The Saints suffered a fifth Conference National defeat in six outings on Saturday at a windswept and chilly Pirelli Stadium as Nigel Clough's Burton Albion strengthened their hopes of a shot at the end of season play-offs courtesy of Aaron Webster's headed goal seconds before the interval. Given the manner with which City defended with no shortage of determined fortitude, particularly from Gary Elphick and Djoumin Sangare, it was a soft goal to concede to a Brewers side that was dangerous at set pieces but reasonably well shackled in open play.

That is not to say that Burton did not deserve the three points, for they were most certainly full value in completing a league double over the beleaguered Saints, but the only times they really seemed to have City struggling was from set pieces courtesy of the right foot of Keith Gilroy.

One commodity in which City were not lacking was effort, Colin Lippiatt could not have asked for any more from his players in that respect, but what City did lack was finesse. Strikers Lee Clarke, on his 150th game for the Saints, and Leon Archer, his first starting appearance, received precious few decent scraps to feed off as all too often the Saints forward movement consisted of wayward passes or, and to be generous to the team, long balls that were lost on the strong wind that blew towards the band of City supporters housed in the East Stand.

The Saints welcomed back Damian Batt from suspension but the normally reliable right back endured an uncomfortable time on the left of the defence as Chris Seeby resumed on the opposite flank. Chris Watters was dropped from the midfield as Patrick Ada, outstanding in the middle of the defence last season, marked his return to the club with a run in midfield. Cameroon-born Ada did his bit in strengthening the midfield by winning a good number of challenges but his passing was a touch rusty, maybe that is not too surprising given that he has had just four outings with Exeter City this season prior to his redeployment to Clarence Park.

Archer came in for Elliot Benyon, whose future on loan to the Saints from Bristol City hangs in the balance as the two clubs try to thrash out a long term deal, and had a couple of promising spells in either half although the prospect of his first Conference goal was more than a touch remote.

Facing into the blustery conditions, St Albans City started reasonably well on a pitch that looked as though it would be heavy but, in fact, stood up extremely well and played true throughout. City won the first corner of the game on five minutes when Seeby sent Archer down the right with his attempted cross being put behind by Darren Stride. Hann's corner was knocked back out to him with his second crisp ball into box being bundled out as far as Dean Cracknell who had one effort charged down before his follow up went harmlessly through to Kevin Poole.

Three minutes later Hann won another corner and, save for a spell in the second half, that was about as good as it got for the visitors. Burton first threatened when the ever-promising Gilroy crossed beyond the far post to Daryl Clare whose first time effort had the sting taken out of it by Batt with Paul Bastock then able to smother the shot of his former Boston United team-mate in some comfort. Former Saint Lloyd Opara started quietly for the home side, though he did became a real handful outside the box but could find no way through the formidable defensive wall put up by Elphick and Sangare. Frequently Sangare showed remarkable timing as he stretched a leg in front of his man to intercept through balls while Elphick probably set a new Olympic record for the number of shots he charged down in dangerous positions.

But it was an excellent piece of awareness by the evergreen Bastock, who tipped the ball over, that kept the scores level when Gary Rowett's header from Gilroy's cross dipped just under the bar. Rowett was less impressive on 21 minutes when Clare helped on a Gilroy free kick to the unmarked former Derby County - and many others - defender who sent a misdirected volley in the general direction of the nearby Pirelli factory.

Latching onto a long through ball by Andy Corbett, Opara seemed to have got the better of Elphick only for the City defender to slide in and get the ball back to his keeper without referee Steven Cummings deeming the outcome to be a deliberate back pass. As Burton enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure Clare headed wide and Opara was dispossessed as he pondered too long inside the Saints penalty area.

Credit must be given to City for succeeding in keeping the Brewers at arms length and when Paul Carden had an effort from 25 yards easily gathered by Bastock who, moments later, also saved an underhit shot from Clare, there was a suspicion that the boys in blue could sup their interval cuppa protecting a clean sheet. But it was not to be for as the clock moved into the final minute of the half Gilroy clipped an inswinging right-footed corner towards the near post where Webster broke free from his marker to head the ball firmly to Bastock's right. For Webster it was his sixth goal of the season, five have come from his head and the other from the penalty spot.

Two minutes after the restart Bastock was in action to save low down from an Opara header, needless to say it was a Gilroy cross, but City responded well and for a while Burton's slender lead was under threat. Ada played a short ball to Batt who smartly went by his man and fired over a tremendous cross that Hann awaited at the back post only for Webster to stretch and head away from goal. Cracknell, who, along with Ram Marwa, toiled tirelessly throughout, won the ball well by the corner flag and ran along the goalline before cutting the ball back to Hann whose cross was blocked.

Burton almost notched a bizarre second goal on 55 minutes when Clare was the last man to leave the penalty area after an attack broke down only for the ball to be suddenly driven in his direction by Danny Holmes with his glancing header safely caught by the alert Bastock. Another chance went begging for the Brewers when Webster played a short ball inside to Gilroy and, when receiving a return pass, hit a first time cross straight onto Opara's head. But those who remember the strikers two appearances for the Saints in September 2004 will not have been surprised to see his tame header bounce meekly wide.

The game was effectively decided midway through the half when St Albans were unable to stick away any of three decent opportunities that came their way. The first, and possibly best, opening began with Ada playing a short pass to Clarke - who was hindered by swollen glands and with hindsight maybe should not have played - who in turn found Seeby. The right-back passed along the ground to Cracknell but the ball rolled beyond both him and his marker for Hann to seize upon and charge into the box. Hann placed his low shot well to Poole's left but the keepers outstretched left boot was sufficient to protect his goal. Brewers boss Clough rightly called it an important save.

Back came City with a downward Elphick header from a Hann corner being headed off the line by Holmes with Poole completely beaten and the Saints final hope of salvaging a desperately needed point evaporated when Marwa's shot close to Poole's right hand post was blocked with the keeper collecting the loose ball.

That flurry was consigned to history moments later when Opara nodded down a Gilroy cross to Clare who looked odds on to claim his 13th goal of the season only for Bastock to make a stunning point-blank reflex save.

Twenty minutes from time Lippiatt shuffled his pack with Archer, Clarke and Seeby making way for Simon Martin, Paul Hakim and Chris Watters. For Martin, in particular, it was hard to expect him to make a significant impact given his lack of action this season yet, of the trio, he probably slotted in the best to link with those around him - that said none of them was able to boost City's flagging efforts in front of goal.

In the closing stages, Clare twice caused problems, his first sortie ended with his low cross just eluding Corbett at the back post and his second foray ended with a good ball into Holmes whose shot on the turn went well wide of Bastock's goal.
Cookie Policy

This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our privacy policy.