ALBION returned to action ahead of the 2023/24 season with a pre-season 1-1 draw away at Nuneaton Borough.
Both halves of football saw manager Dino Maamria pretty much name two different sides, with the majority of Albion’s first team players and trialists all getting forty-five minutes under their belts.
Nuneaton took the lead on 7 minutes when the Brewers back-line failed to deal with a deep cross from Jaden Charles. Crocombe tried to claim the ball, but Matt STENSON nipped in to head home for Boro.
The Brewers first real chance of the game fell to Trialist A on 18 minutes. The left-sided centre back rose highest to Joe Powell’s cross, but he saw his effort go just wide of keeper Dan Jezeph’s goal.
Bobby Kamwa also went close moments later for Albion, running through two Nuneaton defenders and getting a shot away, but a last ditch tackle sent his goal-bound effort wide and out for a corner.
On 34 minutes new arrival Kegs Chauke fizzed a low effort just wide of the post. The midfielder who joined the club this week from Southampton did well to create the effort, but couldn’t quite guide it inside the post.
Albion equalised on 35 minutes through Joe POWELL. The midfielder scored a trademark long-range effort, firing a low 25-yard shot past the helpless Jezeph in the Boro net.
Another new arrival, Cole Stockton, got his first chance at goal moments last on 37 minutes. The former Morecambe man tried to curl his low shot around Jezeph and into the bottom corner, but it went inches wide of the post.
Just before half time Stockton tried an audacious half-volley from around 20-yards out, which looked set to put Albion ahead, but Jezeph pulled a save out of the top draw to tip the shot over.
HALF TIME – NUNEATON 1-1 BURTON ALBION
Dino Maamria made nine changes at the break, with four trialists fielding the pitch.
The second half started with an extremely poor foul by Elhaghany on Carayol. The challenge received a frantic reaction from the majority of the Albion squad and in a league game would arguably have seen the Boro defender receive a red card. The referee brandished a yellow card to both players though – Carayol for his reaction to the foul
On 49 minutes, Carayol straight away seemed fired up got an early effort away. The winger skipped inside and fired a low effort towards Jezeph, but the Boro stopped was equal to the central effort.
Tom Hewlett nearly put Albion ahead on 56 minutes. His whipped effort nearly found the top corner from a wide angle, but Jezeph was there again, to this time palm the effort wide.
Josh Walker worked tirelessly upfront in order to try and make numerous opportunities for Albion, but couldn’t quite force a break through.
That was all the action as the game finished a draw, in a good work out for the Brewers. Alfreton Town is the next test in a friendly away on Tuesday 11 July.
FULL TIME – NUNEATON BOROUGH 1-1 BURTON ALBION
Attendance: 464
STARTING XI: Crocombe (Trialist G, 32), Brayford, Trialist A, Powell, Harper, Stockton, Chauke, Helm, Kamwa, Trialist B, Delap.
SECOND HALF XI: Trialist G, Trialist C, Trialist D, Trialist E, Walker, Carayol, Gilligan, Delap, Hewlett (Trialist H, 62), Trialist I, Tamen.