Birmingham Senior Cup Semi-Final
Burton Albion slipped out of this season's Birmingham Senior Cup at the semi-final stage as two first half goals from a young West Bromwich Albion side saw them through to the final. Samir Nabi pounced to fire home after a defensive mistake inside the box and an unfortunate own goal from keeper Dean Lyness, slicing the ball into the net from Chris Richards backpass were enough for David Oldfield's side.The Baggies made an excellent start having a chance to take the lead inside the first minute. A deep cross from the left found Joe Ward on the edge of the box and his low shot was parried by Dean Lyness with Joe Doyle having to make a smart challenge to deny Kemar Roofe the chance to poach the rebound from close range.
Ashley Hemmings was quick to show his attacking flair with a fizzing 25 yard shot that was not far wide of the post.
The Baggies looked the more likely to open the scoring with an ambitious effort from inside the centre circle not quite good enough to catch out Lyness whilst Marcus Harness drilled a low shot wide of the near post before providing a cross for Michael Symes to send his first time shot well wide.
West Brom got the opening goal on 21 minutes when the Brewers failed to deal with a cross into the box and the ball fell nicely for Samir NABI to fire past Lyness from eight yards out.
Hemmings showed his crossing ability twice in quick succession finding the head of Symes who did well to steer a header on target and quickly after an even better cross came to Dominic Knowles who probably should have done better than head straight into the waiting arms of Jack Rose.
West Brom had a good chance to double their lead just after the half hour mark. Young defender Jack O'Brien misjudged the flight of a long ball and that allowed Alex Jones to get one on one with Marcus Holness. The striker worked room for a thunderous shot but Lyness reacted quickly to beat the ball away.
As is so often the case a squandered chance at one end precedes a goal at the other. O'Brien was inches away from making amends for his earlier error volleying Alex MacDonald's corner just over from close range but the play quickly switched to the other end and left back Chris Richards attempted to play the ball back to Lyness with a firm back pass but the ball took a slight bobble and skewed off the outside of the keeper's boot before rolling almost apologetically into the back of the net.
Half time: Burton Albion 0-2 West Bromwich Albion
The Brewers needed something to happen for them quickly after the break and they were unfortunate when a low cross took a deflection that meant Symes could'nt quite take it in his stride.
The Baggies almost extended their lead when Jones met Cameron Gayle's right wing cross with a glancing header, the striker frustrated to see his effort flash wide of the far post.
Albion produced one of the moves of the night moments later as Richards started a counter attack from the left back position and the ball was quickly worked to the right wing for Harness who burst into the area before driving a low shot wide of the far post.
O'Brien picked up a knock half way through the second period and after treatment was replaced by midfielder Mark Shelton with Jack Dyer dropping into the back four.
Alex MacDonald whipped in a superb corner on 72 minutes that flashed through the six yard box and only needed the merest of touches to turn it home but somehow the ball crept wide of the far post. The midfielder then found himself in the book as he stretched for a ball that Aaron Birch got to first and although he made no contact with either man or ball it was a challenge not to the liking of referee Mark Perry.
Symes also picked up a yellow card for what looked a rather innocuous challenge before Hemmings lashed in a cross shot that struck Donervorn Daniels as it thundered towards the far corner of the net.
As if to prove it wasnt Albion's night a late chance came to Dominic Knowles but he scuffed the ball wide from inside the six yard box. MacDonald saw one final chance blocked inside the box in stoppage time but it was a professional job finished off by the young Baggies.
BREWERS: Lyness, Doyle, Richards, Dyer, Holness, O'Brien, Harness, MacDonald, Symes, Knowles, Hemmings. Substitutes: Horton, Shelton, Austin, Thorpe, Dinanga.
WEST BROM: Rose, Gayle, Francis, Pace, Daniels, Howkins, Roofe, Birch, A.Jones, Ward, Nabi. Substitutes: C.Jones, Palmer, Wedderburn, Donnellan, Wright.
Referee: Mr. Mark Perry
GOALS: BAGGIES - Nabi (21), Lyness (own goal, 40)