Burton Albion got their pre-season preparations for a return to League One with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of John McGrath's Mickleover Sports.
Niall Doran's goal separated the teams at the break, with a strong Brewers XI unable to make their dominance in possession count in the opening 45.
Scott Fraser, making his first outing since joining Albion last week, was among the brightest sparks with some eye-catching runs from midfield - but the visitors still struggled to carve out clear-cut chances.
That changed at the start of the second half, when a much-changed Burton line-up levelled things up through Joe Sbarra.
Burton Albion catch-up
The Albion academy graduate finished a move he began, with Marcus Dinanga latching onto his forward pass and feeding Reece Hutchinson, whose low cross was converted by Sbarra.
Attacking blows were traded without a decisive strike - until Sam Clayton's injury-time header, which clinched the win for Sports.
Key Events
FULL TIME
That Clayton header was the last meaningful touch of the game.
It’s all about fitness and game time at this stage in the summer, of course, so it was a valuable evening’s work for the Brewers against a lively Mickleover.
Still, they won’t be pleased to have lost it in the last minute.
GOAL Mickleover - 2-1
Well, well. Sports have won it at the death.
A corner is whipped in from the right, Scott gets up to win the header and then Sam Clayton is on hand to flick home the ball with his head.
The whistle goes seconds later, so it’s definitely the winning goal for the hosts!
88. Albion are knocking
The Brewers are finishing this game on top.
Dinanga gets possession in the box, shapes to shoot and lets fly, only for a brilliant block to come in.
87. Off the line!
Corner in, McFadzean up, header across goal - and cleared away by Grocott. Close call.
85. Hodge's penalty claims waved away
That’s brilliant work from Harness, out on the right, to beat his man and drive into the box.
He pulls it back for trialist Hodge, who swivels and goes to ground under pressure from his marker.
Penalty shouts - but no penalty given.
83. Chance!
An opening for the Brewers to take the lead - but the final ball is lacking again.
Lund slides a lovely pass through for Harness to charge onto, only for the winger’s cross to fly just ahead of the onrushing Dinanga.
75. Burton's turn to push
Albion have regrouped and are threatening again. Sbarra has helped them get back on the ball, but it’s Hodge and Hutchinson down the left asking questions.
One Hutchinson cross is blocked behind for a corner, from which Lund’s low shot is blocked.
Goalkeeping change
Here comes Jack Livesey, replacing Harry Campbell. Remember, Stephen Bywater is unavailable tonight.
64. Mickleover keep pressing
A gorgeous ball from the right just eludes ex-Brewer Jimmy Phillips, charging in to turn it home at the back post.
The hosts are enjoying some good pressure here, Albion’s rearguard being tested.
56. Garnett denied
Euan Garnett is slid through on goal, but he is denied at an angle by the legs of Campbell.
GOAL Brewers - 1-1
Fifty-one minutes in, the Brewers are level.
It’s a good move, with Sbarra driving them forward and Dinanga feeding Hutchinson.
His low cross is deflected down to Sbarra, who is cool and composed in his finish.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
We’re off and playing again, by the way. Lund drags an early shot wide after nice work by trialist Hodge.
Plenty of changes
As expected, the Brewers make nine changes at the break. Harry Campbell and Tomas Egert stay on, but the other players make way.
Regan Ganley, Reece Hutchinson, Kyle McFadzean, Joe Sbarra, Elliott Hodge, Joe Sbarra, Marcus Harness, Luke McCormick and Marcus Dinanga are on!
Any Brewers standouts?
HALF TIME
You’ll probably have guessed from the updates that it wasn’t the most dramatic of halves.
Albion upped the tempo a little as it wore on, and there were some bright moments - but they struggled to create too much, with sloppiness in the final third and Mickleover defending resolutely.
Doran’s goal for the hosts is the difference.
27. Nice move, no finish to match
That’s Burton’s best move of the game. McCrory passes inside for Fraser, who turns well and picks out Sordell.
The winger’s first touch releases Boyce through the middle, but the ball bobbles and his shot flies high and wide.
Moments later, Fraser has possession in the Sports’ box but can’t pick out a teammate.
Oh, and the rain is definitely coming down now!
GOAL - Mickleover Sports - 1-0
Niall Doran has the hosts ahead!
It’s a good counter. Fraser tries to flick possession out onto the left for Burton, but it’s intercepted and is launched upfield.
Burrows has a cross-shot palmed out, and Doran is on hand to slot home the finish.
20. Fraser with the run
That’s an eye-catching run from Fraser, taking the ball down on halfway and driving through the heart of Mickleover, before he is felled by Grocott.
The less said about Sordell’s free-kick, the better.
18. Quiet so far
Few (read: no) chances so far, Sordell gets back to deny Jimmy Phillips, then Campbell spills a cross from Jarman - but Turner gets it away.
And the floodlights are coming on! It’s July 13!
Is the rain on its way?
It’s got quite dark pretty quickly here - are we about to see a downpour?
Not sure it’s what the players want - or the fans!
9. Nice touch Boyce
Liam Boyce showing the classy, tight control that is such a key part of his game.
He takes one long throw down in midfield and is caught late. No Brewers fans wants to see him down in pain this pre-season - and he’s up pretty quickly!
5. That's a chance
Buxton picks out a fine diagonal ball that eludes Sports left-back Burrows and Sordell controls, cuts inside and tries to find Boyce - but it’s just behind him.
KICK OFF
We’re underway at the Don Amott Arena, and Harry Campbell gets away with a scuffed kick in an early Mickleover attack.
Ex-Brewers galore
There’s a few familiar faces in the Mickleover starting XI, including player-manager John McGrath.
The new man
Well, one of the two new men. I’m sure there are a few Brewers fans in the crowd looking forward to seeing Scott Fraser in action this evening.
I certainly am ��♂️
Blackburn 'make McFadzean enquiry'
A story from earlier today, Kyle McFadzean has reportedly been the subject of an enquiry from Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Here’s more on that - and what Nigel Clough said about possible incomings or outgoings earlier in the week.
This time last year...
It doesn’t feel like two minutes so I was last sat here watching the Brewers taking on Mickleover last summer, when Matty Lund and Liam Boyce were among the new attractions.
That game finished 4-0 to Albion, with Marcus Harness among the goalscorers.
He starts on the bench tonight, by the way.
