Match Report: Burton Albion 3, York City 1

BURTON Albion became the first home team in England to beat York City for almost a year.

Only Welsh pair Wrexham and Newport had defeated Gary Mills’ men on the road since a 3-2 loss at Gateshead at the end of last September, but Burton came back from conceding a tenth-minute Paddy McLaughlin goal last night to secure maximum points.

A heavily-deflected effort by Lee Bell levelled the scores before Calvin Zola netted a second just past the hour and Matt Paterson completed a 3-1 victory in added-on time.

City made one change from the side that started Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Exeter.

On-loan Leeds full-back Charlie Taylor was not named in Mills’ squad of 18 with Jamal Fyfield recalled in his place.

Burton, meanwhile, included former Minsterman Robbie Weir in their midfield.

McLaughlin managed the first shot of the evening when his free-kick, awarded after a purposeful Lanre Oyebanjo was stopped in his tracks, spun wide courtesy of a deflection.

On eight minutes, Michael Ingham then pulled off the latest in a growing string of stunning saves during 2012/13 to keep his side on terms.

An overlapping Anthony O’Connor left Dan Parslow on his backside before crossing low to Jacques Maghoma who, from ten yards, unleashed a powerful rising shot that Ingham did brilliantly to parry to safety.

Just moments later, the Minstermen forged in front when Ashley Chambers ’ searching ball through the left channel was retrieved by Jonathan Smith.

He then played the ball back to McLaughlin, who rode a weak Damien McCrory challenge before drilling a low diagonal shot into home goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson’s bottom left-hand corner from eight yards.

Four minutes afterwards, Chambers volleyed wide at the far post following a crossfield pass from Michael Coulson while Paterson drove wide for the hosts from distance after Clarke Carlisle lost possession.

The action continued to flow from one end to the other with Parslow heading across the face of goal from Oyebanjo's long throw and Paterson going close with a deflected effort after Zola had beaten Chris Smith to a long ball forward.

But another deflection saw the Brewers equaliser on 23 minutes when Bell’s speculative 30-yard strike flicked off the top of Carlisle’s head and looped into a helpless Ingham’s top left-hand corner.

Carlisle was carried off ten minutes later by City kitman Rob Batty and physio Jeff Miller after appearing to fall awkwardly with fit-again Chris Doig replacing him.

As the half drew to a close, Oyebanjo delivered a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box but Jonathan Smith could not direct his volley on target. Jack Dyer, who found himself spare on the right with City’s defence outnumbered, also shot tamely at Ingham in stoppage time.

The City ’keeper rescued his side again early in the second half when he saved at the feet of Zander Diamond while, at the other end, Parslow’s 20-yard full-blooded volley cleared the roof of the away stand before Jason Walker went closer with an audacious lobbed effort from a similar distance.

But Burton took the lead on 65 minutes when Maghoma raided down the left before passing inside to Weir, whose 25-yard drive was saved low to his left by Ingham only for Zola to follow up and net from close range.

More heroics from Ingham kept the visitors in the match on 74 minutes when he displayed remarkable reflexes again to push away a point-blank Zola header after a strong burst down the right by O’Connor.

At the other end, Tomlinson remained relatively unemployed as Chambers cleared the crossbar with an overhead kick and five-goal Coulson fired narrowly over from distance.

Coulson did force the Burton ’keeper into action after 90 minutes had elapsed but his header from Walker’s cross was comfortably saved.

Almost immediately, the hosts broke to add the third goal in the second minute of stoppage time.

Paterson held off a Parslow challenge before deftly lifting his ten-yard shot over an advancing Ingham.

There was still time for Walker to lob a similar chance on to the roof of Tomlinson’s netting as it proved it was not to be City's night.

Match facts

Burton Albion 3 (Bell 23, Zola 65, Paterson 90 + 2), York City 1 (McLaughlin 10)

York City

Michael Ingham 9, Lanre Oyebanjo 7, Chris Smith 6, Clarke Carlisle 6, Jamal Fyfield 6, Dan Parslow 6, Paddy McLaughlin 7, Jonathan Smith 6, Michael Coulson 6, Jason Walker 7, Ashley Chambers 6.

Substitutes: Chris Doig (for Carlisle 33, 5), Matty Blair (for McLaughlin 71), Michael Potts (for J Smith 71).

Not used: Paul Musselwhite , Oli Johnson, John McReady, Jon Challinor.

Star man: Michael Ingham – another excellent performance by City’s star goalkeeper

Burton Albion

Stuart Tomlinson, Damien McCrory, Marcus Holness (Nathan Stanton 31), Zander Diamond, Anthony O'Connor, Jacques Maghoma, Lee Bell, Robbie Weir, Jack Dyer, Matt Paterson, Calvin Zola.

Subs not used: Ross Atkins, Andy Corbett, Aaron Webster, Cleveland Taylor, Justin Richards, Adi Yussuf.Referee: Fred Graham (Essex) (Northumberland).

Referee rating: 5/10.

Booked: Chambers 41, C Smith 86, Weir 90.

Sent off: None.

Attendance: 2,368.

Shots on target: Burton 8, City 2.

Shots off target: Burton 7, City 8.

Corners: Burton 4, City 7.

Fouls conceded: Burton 14, City 15.

Offsides: Burton 2, City 0.