THE Brewers played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in their latest pre-season friendly against League Two side Crewe Alexandra.
First goals in Albion colours for both Cole Stockton, a stunning 25-yard drive, and Ryan Sweeney gave the Brewers a half time lead after Chris Long had converted a penalty. Stockton’s strike quickly cancelled that out whilst Sweeney’s header on the stroke of half time gave Dino Maamria’s side a deserved advantage at the break. As the intensity in the second half dropped slightly Crewe equalised with Courtney Baker-Richardson converting a straightforward chance.
The Alex, now managed by ex-Albion midfielder Lee Bell, were the toughest test yet for the new-look Burton side and Albion fans got their first glimpses of new signing Sweeney and Steve Seddon also started after officially joining on a season long loan from Oxford United, the left-sided defender having been a trialist thus far.
It was a strong looking line-up with only Josh Walker and Josh Gordon missing from the squad carrying minor knocks.
The Brewers quickly began to dominate possession, but it was an early free kick that brought about the first chance to threaten. Mason Bennett was fouled allowing Joe Powell to deliver a free kick that Sweeney could not quite steer on target.
As a monsoon descended on Gresty Road Bobby Kamwa got in behind his man on the right and delivered a teasing cross that came to Bennett, but his attempt was blocked.
Joel Tabiner capitalised on some loose defending from Albion but from the edge of the area his curling effort failed to trouble Jamal Blackman.
Kamwa again exploited space in behind his full back on thirteen minutes, his cross deflecting out to Mark Helm whose shot was pushed away by keeper Harvey Davies.
Crewe were awarded a penalty on seventeen minutes when Shilow Tracey was played through and was adjudged to have been brought down by Blackman, LONG despatching the spot kick.
Albion were behind for barely a minute. Seddon’s searching cross initially STOCKTON but eventually came back to the striker who instinctively fired home a stunning 25-yard effort that beat Davies at his near post.
Crewe almost nicked back in front on 32 minutes when space opened up and Long’s teasing cross was diverted inches wide of the post by a recovering John Brayford.
On the stroke of half time Joe Powell let fly with a speculative effort, the looping shot taking a deflection off his brother Jack. From the resulting corner the ball was eventually worked to the back post and Brayford was able to dig out a chipped ball back across goal where Sam Hughes curled the ball back into the six-yard box, SWEENEY using his height well to get up and nod home from a couple of yards out.
Half time: Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Burton Albion
The goal proved to be Sweeney’s last touch of the game as he made way for Dino Maamria to have another look at Trialist B in the back three for the second half.
Blackman had to make a smart stop as Crewe quickly exploited a loose pass to get Courtney Baker-Richardson running into the box. Trialist B did well to force him a little wide and make it more of an angled shot.
Bennett almost surprised Davies with a curling shot on the turn on 51 minutes that flew not too far wide of the upright.
BAKER-RICHARDSON levelled things up just after the hour mark when possession was surrendered far too easily leaving the defence outnumbered and Tabiner was able to cross to the back post for the Crewe striker to fire home.
Bennett was then replaced by Kegs Chauke before the game could restart.
Brayford proceeded to loop a header onto the top of the crossbar from a booming Powell cross as Albion looked to re-establish their lead.
Harper released a fizzing low shot that looked goal bound after the ball rolled invitingly into his path but a deflection off Trialist B sent it back across the wrong footed keeper and just wide of the post.
Albion continued to push but could not round off a good workout with a third goal. Next up is a trip to Natiional League North side Brackley Town on Tuesday night with the League One season now just three weeks away.
ALBION: Blackman; Brayford, Hughes, Sweeney (Trialist B, 46); Kamwa, Harper, Powell, Seddon; Helm, Bennett (Chauke, 63); Stockton.
Substitutes: Crocombe, Carayol, Lakin, Oakes, Gilligan, Delap, Trialist A, Trialist C.
GOALS: CREWE – Long (18 pen) Baker-Richardson (62) ; ALBION – Stockton (20), Sweeney (45)
Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 1,460