MARK Northcott scored all five goals as Burton reignited their Midlands Premier Division survival bid by battling back from 4-1 down to earn a share of the spoils away to former National League side Stourport.
Stourport are experiencing their first season outside the National League setup and went into the game lying second in the table, but Burton still held the belief they could preserve their status.
Burton did not start well, with Stourport in total command, but as the hosts turned over possession, the visitors countered and their first foray into the D saw Northcott score from close range.
This only served to sting Stourport into action and the lines they work to and the space they clear in midfield allows them to attack in numbers.
Burton did not cope well with it initially and some slack marking allowed Stourport to draw level and ultimately race into a 4-1 lead.
Somewhat shell shocked, Burton still managed to have more attempts on goal in the first half, but they were wasteful in attack.
The half-time talk was stern, with the emphasis placed on people doing their jobs and the back line getting closer to their men while ensuring midfield numbers supported in attack.
It worked to great effect as Burton were a different team in the second half and, led by Ash Wheldon in midfield, they really got stuck in to Stourport.
Rob Wright was tormenting on the right wing and it was not long before Burton reaped their rewards as a brace from Northcott, who completed his hat-trick, got them to within touching distance.
The back line were much better organised and were protecting Martin Jarvis’s goal well.
Northcott then scored his fourth of the game to get Burton on level terms, and at 4-4, it seemed the visitors could go on and win the game.
However, Stourport have a lot of experience and they used it to win a penalty corner which was thundered home to give them the lead again with 10 minutes remaining, but not wanting to leave Northcott grabbed his fifth of the game.
Both sides still went for the win, but at the final whistle, a share of the spoils seemed fair from what was a pulsating match.
The red and greens again showed they have the resolve to fight back and played some brilliant hockey on the way to securing a decent away point.
It was enough to take them off the bottom of the table, and with matches against the three teams immediately above them in consecutive weeks, February could be the month which decides their fate.
This weekend sees Telford visit Shobnall for a 1pm push-back and a massive game in which three points would really get Burton back amongst it.
BURTON 2nds had a double-header, with a clash against Leek followed on Sunday by a rearranged game against Rugby.
Saturday’s game at Uttoxeter started where the previous week’s encounter had left off, with Burton’s goal under siege.
However, goalkeeper James Morrison was equal to the task and Leek could not find a way past.
At the other end, Burton’s forays into the opposition circle were more incisive and Luke Pelech bagged himself a first-half hat-trick.
Burton did not want half-time to arrive as this gave Leek a chance to regroup, and they were much more organised in the second half.
Two goals that Morrison could do little about in the first 10 minutes of the second half gave them more confidence and they pressed forward looking for an equaliser.
A yellow card for Pelech reduced Burton to 10 men for five minutes, but the defence held firm.
Eventually, Leek pressed too high and Kev Stanyon was able to release Al Lawrence with an aerial ball and he rounded the keeper and fired home from a narrow angle.
The defence was in control from then on, although Leek did score from a short corner right at the death.
There was no time for the restart and Burton had held on for a 4-3 victory.
On Sunday, it was Rugby’s turn to visit Burton, this time with Shobnall the venue.
Availability issues meant guest appearances for Simon White, Royston Kemp and Andrew Woolley, and all three did themselves proud as Burton held on again at the end for a 3-2 victory.
The first half saw Burton doing all the attacking and Rugby’s goal leading a charmed life.
Eventually, five minutes before the break, Lawrence poked one through the keeper’s legs and Rugby were dazed to such an extent they let in two more, with further strikes from Lawrence and Pelech giving the hosts a 3-0 lead at half-time.
The match turned on its head after the break, and Rugby quickly scored from a short corner to give them renewed confidence.
A further breakaway goal with 10 minutes to go set the match up nicely for a thrilling finale, but neither side could add to their score.
Woolley should have squared the ball to two waiting Burton forwards but instead shot at the keeper, while the Rugby centre forward missed the left post by inches.
Coach James Hibbert said: “I wish the team could hold on a bit better to a threenil lead — my nerves are shot to pieces! “Well played to all of the team over the two games, six points from one weekend is a brilliant result.”
