BURTON 4
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 3
A PHIL Holmes strike as time expired secured Burton only their second victory of the season in the ENER-G Midlands Premier Division after they had thrown away a three-goal lead.
Since the demoralising defeat to South Nottingham, Burton have turned in two very strong performances as they continue to improve and adjust to life in the top flight of Midlands hockey.
Defeat to Coventry & North Warwicks did not reflect their dominance, but the red and greens got their reward at Shobnall on Saturday against a poor Northampton side.
Riding out 10 minutes of Northampton possession at the start of the game, Burton then hit a triple salvo as their passing game came to the fore and they ripped through the visitors.
Mark Northcott started the scoring, the Burton talisman flicking low to grab them the lead.
Then Burton scored their best goal of the season as a flowing move through midfield saw Rob Wright released, and the youngster unselfishly squared for Paul Scarborough to continue his scoring form.
This was then complimented by an Ash Wheldon goal as he finished off a strong run from man of the match James Margetson.
As Burton have found out at this level, you cannot switch off, and a lapse in concentration let Northampton in to pull a goal back just before half-time.
The returning Martin Jarvis, in goal, had nothing else to do in the half.
The second half should have brought more of the same as Burton flashed the ball across Northampton’s goal on half a dozen occasions, but to no avail.
Instead of taking the game to Northampton, the hosts sat back a little and invited pressure, allowing the visitors to grab the initiative.
Jonny Buttler was sin-binned for a deliberate foul and Northampton sensed a comeback.
They gained two penalty corners and, with five minutes to go, Burton found themselves only 3-2 ahead.
Saints then immediately won another penalty corner, which was converted, and with only 30 seconds on the clock, it looked as though Burton would fail to get the win they deserved.
However, from the re-start, they immediately attacked and Rich Stringer, who had only landed back in England a few hours earlier, won a penalty corner right on the final whistle.
Northcott’s first effort was saved, but the ball became dangerous, so another corner was awarded.
Northcott’s second effort hit the keeper again, but Holmes was on hand to slam in the rebound and send the players and watching crowd into delirium.
Burton had won and got the luck their performance deserved.
Skipper Ed Clamp said: “In the grand scheme of things it is three points and a strong performance, but at three-three with just seconds to go, we could have given it up, but we knew we deserved more.
“Hopefully we can kick on now and that comes against runaway leaders Khalsa next week.
“We don’t fear anyone in this division and we know that when we pass the ball, we can take anyone apart.
“I must thank everyone who came to watch and support, they really spurred us on and it’s great to know we can play in front of them and it makes it tough for the away sides.” Burton travel to Khalsa on Saturday to face the title favourites who have won every game so far this season.
BURTON 2nds visited Birmingham University on Saturday without any expectation of getting a result, but they emerged 4-2 victors as the students were not as strong as anticipated.
The hosts gifted Burton the first goal.
They had a short corner but stopped playing at the sound of a whistle from the adjacent pitch believing Burton had run out early.
However, the umpire gave no decision and Burton counter-attacked in numbers.
Danny Hibbert was felled by their keeper and Kevin Stanyon converted the penalty flick.
The students enjoyed significant possession, but Burton found it relatively easy to repel the hosts as they approached the circle and chose to turn and pass back rather than attempt to beat a determined defender.
Pressure told eventually, however, and the students converted their fifth corner with a very nice routine which ended with the ball deflected over the keeper from just in front of him.
Burton regained the lead immediately before half-time after the students let the ball roll out of play.
A swift cross was deflected to Jake Kemp at the top of the D and he dispatched the bouncing ball very sweetly just inside the left post.
The second half followed exactly the pattern of the first.
From 2-1, Jason Smith scored a somewhat fortunate first goal for the club as a cross from inside the D was deflected in by the keeper, but the hosts pulled one back to make it 3-2 with 10 minutes to go.
At the death, with the students pushing all out for the equaliser, Hibbert robbed their centre-half on Burton’s 25-yard line and released Al Lawrence with a 50-yard ball to give him a clear sight of goal, oneon- one with the keeper.
Lawrence feinted right and ran round to the keeper’s left and dribbled the ball over the line to give Burton a deserved but surprise 4-2 victory.
Coach James Hibbert said: “The best team won today, no doubt about it.
“I wish we could bottle the desire to win and the playing attitude from today and release it every Saturday — we’d be top of this league in no time!”
BURTON 7ths continued their season in great style by beating Derby Asterdale 5-2 on Saturday.
Doubles from Steve Goodfellow and Jamie Jenkins and a Duncan Austin goal secured the victory, with man of the match Toby Laughlin in goal making a string of fine saves at crucial times to ensure the three points.
