Magpies felled by
Brown new BMW Mini champion
A90TH minute winner from Jake Beesley booked Rochdale’s place in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup, as Dale beat Notts County in a first round replay at Meadow Lane on Tuesday evening.
Josh Andrews put Rochdale ahead on 15 minutes, but the Magpies equalised shortly after the hour mark. Beesley headed home at the death to set up a televised game against Plymouth Argyle in December.
There were four changes to the side that line-up against Leyton Orient at the weekend, as Jay Lynch, Max Taylor, Aidy White and Andrews came in for Joel Coleman, Sam Graham, Jimmy Keohane and Abraham Odoh.
The home side tested first, when a ball over the top was met by Ruben Rodrigues who had a first time volley held by Lynch.
A couple of minutes later Corey O’keeffe sent a dangerous low ball into the area from the right which was diverted narrowly wide of the upright.
Kairo Mitchell was through one-on-one with Lynch a short time later following a well-worked move forward from inside their own area, but he could only strike high over the bar.
Dale enjoyed a spell of pressure as they grew into the game and they broke the deadlock with a quarter of an hour played. After an Aaron Morley corner was partially cleared away, Liam Kelly arrowed the ball to the back post for Andrews, who sent a brilliant volley beyond Anthony Patterson.
Three minutes later, Lynch was out quickly to block Aaron Nemane’s close range effort at the near post.
Josh Andrews (left) Dale’s opening goal against Notts County at Meadow Lane in the FA Cup first round replay on Tuesday
Jake Beesley then pounced on a poor clearance and went for goal from 25-yards, but Patterson was equal to it, getting down to hold the effort.
A couple of minutes later, Notts County were denied by the woodwork. Rodrigues’ rifled shot from the edge of the area looked destined for the top corner, but it came back off the underside of the bar.
It was a scare for the visitors but Dale comfortably saw out the half and came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage just after the half hour mark.
O’keeffe charged onto Morley’s ball over the top and dinked the ball over the advancing goalkeeper but his effort dropped inches wide of the far post.
Five minutes from half
ROCHDALE racer Steve Brown has been named as the 2021 Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy BMW MINI champion after the latest round [6-7 November] at Lydden Hill Race Circuit in Kent.
Brown grabbed hold of the lead of the championship earlier this year at Pembrey in Wales and after a solid performance throughout the latter half of the season, was able to hold onto the top spot as the championship headed to the penultimate round in the South East.
However, a brutal Lydden meeting saw Brown on the back foot for much of the weekend and would find himself tied for the championship lead after Sunday’s all important final. But, with news that the final scheduled round has been cancelled, Brown has been named as the champion thanks to the points count-back and taking two round victories.
“It’s a brilliant feeling to win probably the most competitive and hotly contested series in the British Rallycross Championship” said an elated Brown once the news broke of his accolade.
“It’s been such a tough season and certainly one with plenty of highs and lows but I’ve stuck at it and pressed on. I`m really happy with my performance this year too and it’s clear that experience and race craft really makes a huge different to your results and I do have to remember this is only my second year in rallycross. I`m a rally driver at heart and it took a lot for me to understand how to deal with other racers on the track so it makes this such a special title.”
The Fuchs Lubricants backed MINI pilot made a full-time switch from the stages to the circuits in 2019 and in his debut season on the British Rallycross tour, he took third overall in the championship. His 2021 campaign enjoyed a prosperous start with numerous podiums and finally taking his maiden win at Pembrey. Consistency was key through the remaining rounds to lift him to the top of the championship tables, where he would stay until the last.
But with the title comes further news of Browns future.
“I`ve really enjoyed my time in the British Rallycross championship but I’ve decided that I want to leave on a high and I`ll be hanging up my rallycross boots” he said. “It’s a great discipline but I have really missed the stage rallies. I have my fully rebuilt Nissan Micra Kit Car ready to go and I’m desperate to get out in that in 2022 so we will be putting together a plan over the winter to see what next year holds. I have to say a huge thank you to all my sponsors for their support during my rallycross career and big thanks must also go to Kevin, Alan, Andy, Tom, Alan Brown and Dave Bellerby for their help. This year has been difficult for a number of reasons but we have done what we set out to do, and that’s win.”
Steve is sponsored by Fuchs Lubricants, 710 Oils, PIAA, Questmead, Mintex, Brake Prep, CD Heritage and Magnum Motorsport.