Town: Scott Howie, Darren Moss, Darren Tinson (c), Dave Ridler, Martin O'Connor, Dave Edwards (Kevin Street 61), Jake Sedgemore, Ryan Lowe, Colin Cramb, Luke Rodgers (Sam Aiston 78), Duane Darby (Jody Banim 90)

Subs: Ross Stephens, Joe Hart

Goals: L.Rodgers 17

Ref: J.Tattan
Assistants: D.Handley, J.Collin
Fourth Official: C.Nock

Attendance: 3115

Town make a couple of changes with Dave Edwards coming in for Jamie Tolley, who has a sore ankle. Sam Aiston drops to the bench in place of Colin Cramb as Town look to start with a 4-3-3 formation.

Town created a good chance after Dave Edwards broke down the left, he skipped past the challenge of Hoyle and then cut back, he then curled in a great cross to the backpost to find Darby, he knocked the ball back into the danger area but was just above Cramb and Rodgers.

Sedgemore was a little casual bringing the ball out and Andy White nicked the ball off, he bore down on the Town goal but Sedgemore managed to get back and covered well to allow Howie to collect the ball.

Town took the lead after 16-minutes when the ball came to Dave Edwards in the centre, he span and put the ball out to Rodgers on the right, he cut along the by-line and into the box and then put the ball between Duke and his post and into the back of the net from a tight angle.

A ball towards the Town defence looked to have let White in on goal, Howie and Mossey came out to cover and White clattered into Moss leaving him on the ground and ref Tattan blew for a foul.

Colin Cramb had the ball in the centre of the park, he took the ball forward and skipped past the challenge, he then cut the ball back looking to set-up a shooting position but then threaded the ball to Darby in the Burton box, he looked to shot but Dudley go in a block and Darbs shot wide.

Town had a couple of good efforts the first after a great turn and shot from Dave Edwards from 25-yards which flew just wide. The great solo skill from Darby saw him cut in from the left, he turned one player, then another and put in a great shot but if flew just over.

Town continued to push as the half neared it's end, Darby was strong to keep possession on the edge of the Burton box, he laid the ball off to set-up Lowe, but it took a bobble and he screwed the ball well over the bar.

Town's should have had a second when great work by Colin Cramb saw him skip past a challenge on the edge of the box, he then skipped past another and put a great ball to the back post to find Dave Edwards in space, the ball got stuck under his foot and he couldn't get a clean shoot in, he pulled the ball back looking for Darby but it was behind the Town forward.

Town: 1-0

Cramb was still looking sharp after the restart and again he ghosted past a couple of Burton players and laid the ball down the left to Rodgers, he cut the ball back to O'Connor on the edge of the box, he brought the ball back onto his left and curled in a shot that dropped just over the bar.

A quick Town break saw Edwards power into the Burton half after a quick throw from Sedgemore, he continued to run and put the ball through to Rodgers, he had to cut the ball back and then laid it to set-up a shot for Cramb that flew just over the bar, but the better option may have been Lowe on the far side who was in acres of space.

With 20-minutes gone Town made their first switch of the evening with Kevin Street coming on for Dave Edwards, Edwards had taken a couple of knocks in the game and this seemed to be affecting.

Town looked too be two up and Moss had put the ball to Lowe, he shot but it was poor and came to Darby, he laid it to Rodgers who shot but it came to Cramb he looked to side foot the ball into the empty net but it hit the post and came out. Then moments later another Lowe show came to Darby, he controlled the ball well and laid off to set-up Kevin Street but he put his shot well over the bar from close in.

On 73-minutes a strong break by Darby saw him power down the right, he went through one challenge and continued his run towards the right of the Burton box, he put in a great ball to the backpost to find Street, he looked to odds on to score but put his shot the wrong side of the post.

Town were still creating chances but still couldn't find the back of the net, an O'Connor corner was swung into the centre of the Burton box and there was the head of Darby, but it flew just wide.

Town made their second switch on 78-minutes with Sam Aiston coming on for Luke Rodgers, with Colin Cramb pushing up front with Duane Darby.

Burton were continuing to push when they could and were trying to get something from the game, Corbett created a good chance for himself after powering through the Town midfield and bore down on goal, he put in a strong shot with his right but luckily it flew just over the Town bar.

With seconds remaining Burton looked to have equalised after sustained pressure in the Town box, there were bodies everywhere in the box and Corbett looked to have got the ball over the line but Howie was there to push the ball away and Town cleared up field.

The game entered injury time and Town made their final switch with Jody Banim coming on for Duane Darby.

full-time: 1-0

An important win by Town but they made hard work of it, they had numerous chances to wrap the game up but allowed Burton to put on a lot of pressure towards the end and the visitors nearly equalised.

Man Of The Match

Darby, Cramb, Rodgers and Tinson all got a vote but the overall Man Of The Match goes to Colin Cramb.

His first game back in a while and he looked great, he showed great skills and a lot of Town's best play went through him.

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