Maddox back with a goal in BSC victory
THE Birmingham Senior Cup has long since ceased to provide important fixtures on Burton Albion’s calendar but there was a little more of interest about the Brewers’ first round tie away to Stratford Town on Tuesday night.
It was a game in which two of the big summer signings, Tom O’connor and Jacob Maddox, made their return from injury, while there were useful minutes for first-team squad members Ellery Balcombe, Ciaran Gilligan, Terry Taylor, Omari Patrick and Aaron Amadi-holloway.
O’connor and Patrick had 46 minutes each and Maddox 65 minutes.
Frazer Blake-tracy captained the Brewers, until he came off after 65 minutes, and the games was drawn 2-2 before Burton went through 3-0 on penalties.
O’connor had an early chance for the Brewers, seeing a low effort from 18 yards saved well by keeper Louis Beresford.
Owen James looked lively for Stratford and forced Balcombe to a save after 19 minutes, before putting them ahead after half an hour.
He dispossessed Balcombe, chased the loose ball and finished well on the turn.
Amadi-holloway headed wide soon after, then Patrick was sent through but, in trying to lift the ball over Beresford on the bounce, could not get enough on it and the keeper made the save.
However, Patrick equalised for Burton with his next chance.
Amadi-holloway flicked on a corner and Patrick was unmarked to head goalwards.
Beresford saved that at pointblank range but could not hold on and Patrick turned the ball home on the rebound.
Academy player John-joe Power replaced O’connor at half-time, while Callum Niven replaced Patrick.
Power caused problems for Stratford, surging into space before hitting a powerful drive from 25 yards that Beresford did brilliantly to parry away acrobatically.
The Brewers took the lead after an hour, Maddox making space for himself and drilling a low effort to the bottom corner from 18 yards.
He was replaced by Tommy Hill after 65 minutes but must be in con
tention for a return to the first team squad now.
Burton did not cruise to victory, as James did well to intercept a backpass with seven minutes left, curling in a shot from a tight angle.
When it came to penalties, Blacombe made two good saves and Stratford hit the post with their other effort, while Amadi-holloway, Taylor and Gilligan all scored to seal victory for the Brewers.
Balcombe, Gilligan, Redfern, Latty-fairweather, Blake-tracy (Emery, 65), O’connor (Power, 46), Taylor, Patrick (Niven, 46), Maddox (Hill, 65), Nyahwema, Amadi-holloway. Other sub: Moore.