BREWERS BEAT HEDNESFORD 7-1 IN BIRMINGHAM SENIOR CUP

A mixture of youth and experience saw Burton Albion run out comfortable 7-1 winners against Hednesford Town this evening in the Birmingham Senior Cup.

Youngster Joe Sbarra grabbed himself an impressive hat-trick, fellow youngster Marcus Dinanga got a brace and Tom Flanagan and Stuart Beavon also got on the score-sheet.

The Brewers started well and captain for the evening Beavon almost put the Albion ahead when his shot from 12 yards out hit the post on the 5th minute after a good run and ball down the left from Callum Reilly.

Albion’s next chance came to Beavon again who found himself on the edge of the box and let a strike go into the right side of the goal which deflected off a Hednsesford defender past Crane into the net.

The next chance produced the next goal, Beavon and Marcus Dinanga linked up well on the right side with Beavon looking up to find Joe Sbarra inside the box who slotted home first-time past Crane.

The Brewers added a third before half-time as defender Tom Flanagan’s bullet header flew past keeper Crane from a Reilly free-kick on the left hand side.

Striker Marcus Dinanga was the next player to get in on the act after racing down the right-hand side, he took his time, cut in side and then placed the ball past a helpless Crane.

The hosts Hednesford started better after the break and got their reward in the 55th minute when striker Ashley Sammons found himself free in the box with his shot deflecting past Brewers keeper Harry Campbell.

The Brewers responded well and scored two goals in two minutes around ten minutes later as Dinanga and Sbarra both grabbed their second goals of the game.

Dinanga was picked out by substitute Jack Hallahan after a good cross on the right-hand side which Dinanga slid on to.

Sbarra scored another great goal, this time just inside the opposing box and slotted home powerfully with ease past Crane. Sbarra wasn’t finished there and helped himself to a hat-trick in the 84th minute when he hit a right-footed strike from 20 yards which curled past Crane into the back of the goal.

Sbarra who turns 18 tomorrow, certainly won’t forget his man-of-match performance in a hurry.

The Brewers will now face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the quarter-finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup, with the date yet to be announced.