First-half blitz sets up big win for Burton in Coventry trip
A FAST start put Burton Men’s 1sts in total control and sent them on their way to a 7-3 Midlands Two win away to Coventry & North Warwick.
They were two goals up after only 10 minutes and 5-1 ahead by half-time to set up a second successive victory and lift them to sixth in the table.
Both their early goals came from deflections at the back post, Jamie Jenkins and Mark Northcott converting, though Coventry remained dangerous on the counter-attack and pulled a goal back from a short corner.
But Burton continued to pile on the pressure, with Alex Farmer busy down the right wing. They were soon 4-1 up as a short corner was flicked in by Nick Lathbury and Jenkins deflected in another.
Shortly before half-time, Ed Clamp broke down the right and crossed for Jamie Cooper to strengthen Burton’s grip.
Coventry came out strongly in the second half and scored a second goal but further goals from Northcott and Lathbury crushed any thoughts of an unlikely comeback and their home side’s third goal was a mere consolation.
Man of the match was Northcott.
Late pressure was just not enough for Burton 2nds, who lost 4-3 at home to Sutton Coldfield 2nds.
Jack West made it 1-1 but Nate Harrison’s penalty flick was saved shortly after and though goals from Joe Mylrea and Dave Watkins kept them in touch, Sutton held on.
Burton 3rds picked up their first points with a 1-0 win over Boots 4ths, while Burton 4ths took the victory away to West Bridgford 6ths, Connor Jenkins, Harrison Kemp and Ian Brown giving them a 3-2 win.
Burton 5ths went down 3-1 to Leicester 4ths.
RUNAWAY Midlands One leaders Repton proved too strong for Burton Ladies 1sts, beating them 10-2.
An extra challenge came with Repton choosing to play with 11
outfield and no goalkeeper, with the constant overloads leading to four goals in the first 20 minutes.
Good saves from keeper Megan Bignell kept the scoreline 4-0 at half-time and they reduced the deficit on the break early in the second half as Alice Hickman chased down a ball played into the D and touched it into the open goal.
Repton responded immediately to make it 5-1 and they had scored eight by the time Daisy Wong scored with a strong push from a tight angle for Burton.
Repton made it double figures by full-time but Burton had the comfort of being the only team to score past Repton so far this season. Hatty Shenton was player of the match.
Burton 2nds failed to hold on to a 4-0 lead as they were pegged back 4-4 by Derby.
Nicola Chambers (2), Tyler Fincham and Grace Spendlove put Burton in apparent control but Derby’s surge frustrated them.
The 3rds missed out 5-0 to top of the table Ashbourne 1sts and the 4ths also lost, 2-1 to Matlock.
Burton Rhinos had a 5-2 comeback win against Stafford, four goals from Nathaniel Ball and one from Oliver Parkes wiping out a 2-0 deficit.