BURTON Albion got their pre-season preparations under way with a 3-1 victory over Nuneaton Borough at Liberty Way
After a goalless first half Albion struck three times after half time having put out two different teams in each 45 minutes of the game.
Omari Patrick got his first goal in Albion colours just before the hour mark with Kane Hemmings and Joe Powell also on the scoresheet before Carl Baker netted a penalty late on to reduce the arrears.
The game was barely seventy second in when Johnny Smith fed Danny Rowe and the midfielder drove into the box and clipped a cross onto the top of the crossbar.
Albion, playing in a 4-4-2 in the first half continued to press and a low ball across the box on twelve minutes was almost turned home by Trialist 1 with Borough keeper Tony Breeden dropping low to his right to smother.
And two minutes later Trialist 1 poked a shot just wide of the post after more good work from Smith, switching to the left.
Smith had a go for himself on 22 minutes, exchanging passes with Bryn Morris from a corner and driving across the edge of the box and unleashing an effort that flew wide.
Trialist 1 got himself in the right place to connect well with a cross from Rowe a minute later but his header was straight at Breeden.
Ben Garratt showed good hands to cut out a Cain Noble cross before Albion countered Rowe eventually having the chance with a low drive that was deflected wide for a corner.
Trialist 2 enjoyed a solid first half sitting in the centre of midfield alongside Morris distributing the ball forward with a good degree of accuracy throughout the half.
Half time: Nuneaton Borough 0-0 Burton Albion
Albion began the second half on the front foot and after a good interchange on the left Cameron Borthwick-Jackson drilled a cross beyond everyone before Patrick won a free kick that Terry Taylor put onto the head of Trialist 3, the centre back just unable to guide his header on target.
Both Hemmings and Powell were denied by the Borough defence moments later as another Borthwick-Jackson cross looked to carve over the hosts defence.
The Brewers made the breakthrough on 57 minutes as a move started on the right found Powell able to link with Hemmings and he put the ball on a plate for PATRICK to sweep the ball in.
Albion doubled their lead on 70 minutes after some neat passing and movement allowed Lucas Akins to feed HEMMINGS in down the left channel and he coolly slotted home.
Nuneaton substitute Amer Awadh almost made an instant impact driving juts over the bar from the edge of the box although Ellery Balcombe appeared to have his angles covered.
A third goal came for Albion on 74 minutes through POWELL the winger getting the ball from Akins and riding a challenge before firing into the corner.
Nuneaton earned themselves a late penalty on 85 minutes when Awadh's shot was blocked by the arm of Luke Redfern giving BAKER the chance to step up and confidently fire the spot kick into the roof of the net.
First half: Garratt, Oshilaja, Morris, Smith, Shaughnessy, Rowe, Trialist 1, Moult, Trialist 2, Hamer, Mancienne. Substitutes: Hawkins, Radcliffe.
Second half: Balcombe, Borthwick-Jackson, McLean, Powell, Hemmings, Akins, Patrick, O'Connor, Trialist 3, Taylor, Redfern. Substitutes: Hawkins, Radcliffe (for McLean, 81).
GOALS: Borough - Baker (85 pen) ; Albion - Patrick (57), Hemmings (70). Powell (74)