BSC value as three get back into action in victory

SCOTT GRABS DOUBLE AND NIEMCZYK ALSO ON TARGET

THERE was value on various levels for Burton Albion in a 3-2 win away to Highgate United in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

The game gave injured pair Michael Mancienne and Ciaran Gilligan the chance to get an hour under their belts as they build up towards adding much-needed numbers to the first team squad again.

Leg break victim Jakub Niemczyk, the former Academy forward who has a first team squad deal this season, also enjoyed a valuable 90 minutes and scored a cracking goal.

And for the young players in the team who had been in the youth team agonisingly dumped out of the FA Youth Cup on penalties at the weekend, the game offered an excellent opportunity to start to bury that memory.

None did so more than Dylan Scott, who had scored in the Youth Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and added two more goals against Highgate.

After an uneventful opening in which both sides struggled to come to terms with a very wet pitch the Brewers took the lead in the 25th minute.

Scott intercepted a weak backpass from George Clett and rounded keeper Reece Francis to put the ball into an empty net.

It was nearly two two minutes later when Gilligan slid a ball through for Bobby Kamwa, who curled a shot just wide of the top corner.

But it was two after 31 minutes. Niemczyk did well to win the ball high up the pitch and played Scott through.

This time, he smashed a finish with the outside of his foot past Francis.

Highgate pulled a goal back shortly after as the Brewers failed to clear, the ball pinged around the box and was eventually turned in by Jack Storer.

Niemczyk made it 3-1 after 44 minutes. He looked arguably the liveliest player on view all night and when Conor Pace played a short corner to him on the edge of the box, he rifled a shot into the top corner.

A frantic spell ended in first-half stoppage time with a second goal for Highgate, Storer heading in a cross from the left by Ashanti Price.

Both sides tightened up at the back in the second half and chances were limited.

Kamwa caused problems and went closest for the Brewers, one long shot looking destined for goal until Francis managed to tip it around the post.

Niemczyk went close, too, after Toby Oakes burst down the right and pulled the ball back. Niemczyk’s shot smashed against the post and stayed out.

Storer went close to a hat-trick for the home side, curling a shot goalwards from the edge of the area before Finn Delap got in an excellent block.

The Brewers hit the post again in the last minute, Niemczyk teeing up Kamwa on the edge of the box but Francis touching his shot on to the post.

ALBION: Moore, Oakes, Delap, Tamen, Lattyfairweather (Maginness, 63), Kamwa, Mancienne (Robinson, 63), Gilligan (Hazell, 63), Pace (Nyahwema, 76), Scott (Bennett, 76), Niemczyk.

* With thanks to Ethan Thatcher for match reporting.