I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sam Austin, currently a 2nd year scholar, who was named as an unused substitute for the recent 1st team game ‘v’ Exeter, Sam was also part of the travelling squad that played at Newport County, Sam knows that the real work starts now and he deserves everything that he gets, he is one of the Youth Team groups most consistent performers.
On Sat 23 Aug 14 the Brewers Youth Team made the short trip to Chesterfield to play their 3rd Youth Alliance League fixture. Due to Sam Austin being involved with the first team and a couple of injuries we had to make some changes to last weeks strain team, in came Shay Allen for his first start of the season, Michael Pearson moved to right back and Mirsa Sejdic started up front.
The Brewers started on the front foot and through set pieces and good quick play, Chesterfield soon found themselves pushed back and it was no surprise that the Brewers went 1-0 up after 7mins. Marcus Dinanga beat the Chesterfield full back and delivered a great ball into the area where Matt Murfin met the cross at the far post and calmly dispatched the ball back across the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net, his first ever headed goal for Burton Albion.
Chesterfield responded and through some good defending, the score remained 1-0 up until the 20th min, when a cross shot was spilt by the Burton keeper, Charlie Hornby, and the ball was bundled over the line. Despite the setback the young Burton team kept playing and were rewarded in the 30th min, when a great delivery by Matt Murfin, from a corner, was met by the ‘back’ of Charlie Gatter and the ball flew into the Chesterfield net.
The game then ebbed and flowed without either team creating too many chances, Burton took their 2-1 advantage into the half time interval.
Brad Coggins was replaced at half time by Brad Smith who slotted into the back four. The 2nd half never really got going and was a very disappointing spectacle to watch.
On the positive side we saw the game through very professionally and Chesterfield never really created too many goal scoring opportunities in the 2nd half. Our play out of possession was on the whole disciplined and good, we became much more difficult and organised to play against, as staff we feel that this is vital in the players development, they learn to see games through, be disciplined out of possession, attack at pace hopefully create goal scoring opportunities. If anything Burton were the team who were more likely to score another goal and add to their lead.
Not a great advert for youth football, but pleasing none the less, the young Brewers sometimes learn far more from fixtures like this than games where it’s free flowing attacking ‘v’ defence football, a very different game than our previous Youth Alliance fixtures, but the first win of the season and a very encouraging start to the current campaign.
Our next fixture is on Sat 30 Aug at Welbeck DSFC, where we entertain our local neighbours Notts County in the Youth Alliance League Cup, after the 1-1 draw two weeks ago the young Brewers know they will be in for a very tough contest.
Neill Hornby
Head of Coaching