ALBION'S Young Brewers made it safely through to the second round of this season's FA Youth Cup with a 4-1 victory over Worcester City
On a rainy night at the Pirelli there was little to dampen Albion spirits as they built on Ben McLean's first half header to dominate the second half and complete victory through goals from Jakub Niemczyk, Ben Radcliffe and Yewo Nyirenda sending Sam Rose's side into the next round.
Albion had the first serious attempt on goal on five minutes. The forceful running of Nyirenda won the young Brewers a free kick on the left hand side but Said Idouarab was unable to curl his effort on target to test out City keeper Ben Clay.
And Nyirenda went close from an Idouarab corner a minute later, the striker unlucky to see Harishullah Jan clear his powerful header off the line.
Idouarab was finding plenty of space to test out the Worcester defence and an excellent cross picked out Charlie Williams but his header just missed the near post.
The winger's persistence paid off on ten minutes with another teasing corner and this time it was MCLEAN who rose to head home from close range.
Albion went looking for a second goal and when Marcio Rodrigues De Olivera was harshly yellow carded for a coming together with Nyirenda as the striker tried to latch onto Idouarab's powerful headed clearance it left a presentable chance from 25 yards but this time Idourarab could not get the ball beyond the defensive wall.
Worcester had a good spell towards the end of the half, a centreal free kick allowing City to try and test keeper Drew Hutchinson but skipper Luke Redfern afforded his keeper great protection with a brave block before Worcester sent the loose ball back into the box, Owen Oxley hooking the ball over on the turn.
Half time: Burton Albion 1-0 Worcester City
The Young Brewers came out brightly at the start of the second half and after penning their opponents in had a couple fo decent chances, Nyirenda firing into the side netting from an acute angle and Matty Richardson curling an effort over the bar from the edge of the box after good build up play from Jakub Niemczyk.
The young left-back, who has been involved in the Papa John's Trophy action this season was on the scoresheet himself moments later as the ball came to him on the left hand side of the penalty area and he blasted home.
Charlie Williams thought he had added a third after neatly rounding the keeper on 57 minutes but in controlling the ball it was adjudged that he had used an arm.
When Albion did make it three on 67 minutes it was an emphatic finish. Albion, with the confidence of a two goal lead were playing with confidence and when the ball came out to RADCLIFFE in space 25 yards out the midfielder needed no invitation to lash an exocet of a shot into the back of the net.
Worcester substitute Alex Watts attempted to emulate Radcliffe's effort but his long range effort was safely pouched by Hutchinson.
Niemczyk went close to netting his second of the evening on 78 minutes cutting in onto his less favoured right foot and driving an effort just wide of the post. Visiting keeper Clay then made a good save as Matty Richardson was allowed to drive into the box and the Worcester defence were able to clear before Nyirenda could pounce on the rebound.
Worcester pulled a late goal back when an attempted clearance by Thierry Latty-Fairweather skewed up and over Hutchinson who despite his best efforts could not quite scramble the ball clear.
Albion need not worry about a late comeback though as NYIRENDA got the goal his all round performance in attack deserved thumping a header beyond Clay after more good work from Niemczyk.
BURTON ALBION: Drew Hutchinson, Ben McLean, Jakub Niemczyk, Ben Radcliffe, Luke Redfern (c), Thierry Latty-Fairweather, Said Idouarab, James Matthews, Yewo Nyirenda, Charlie Williams (Callum Niven, 84), Matty Richardson.
Substitutes (unused): Braeden Noon-Brandy, John-Joseph Power, Tommy Hill, Huw Emery, Cassiun Langfield, Ben Maginnis
WORCESTER CITY: Ben Clay, Zach Humphreys, Harishullah Jan (Alex Watts, 57), Dexter Dudley-Toole, Marcio Rodrigues De Olivera (Sam Swatton, 80), Zach Bowater (c), Charlie Tilley, Josh Schuck (Reece Day, 76), Owen Oxley, Cameron Monteith, Tristan Webby.
Substitutes (unused): Louis Humphries, Brandon Croft, Kobie Chikosi, Cian Stock
Referee: Mr B.Robinson
GOALS: Albion - McLean (10), Niemczyk (51), Radcliffe (67), Nyirenda (88) - Worcester - own goal (87)