Holroyd and Laird on target for Boro

Chris Holroyd’s superb goal has given Boro a 2-1 victory against Burton Albion.

Lawrie Wilson sent in a cross from the right, and Holroyd made what can only be described as a sideways bicycle kick to hammer the ball home. Earlier in the half Aaron Webster had levelled things with a left-footed shot from eight yards.

1 min – Long, after just 14 seconds, collects a Chris Holroyd pass, drives on and hits a low shot at Legzdins who parries but then gathers.

5 mins – Henry plays a through ball to Holroyd who runs through to the edge of the area, but is tackled by Austin who slides in.

8 mins – Scott Laird sends a ball over the top. It is flicked on by Holroyd to Peter Winn who beats the full-back for pace and then crosses deep for Wilson, who knocks down for Holroyd who was bundled over in the box by Austin. Holroyd’s penalty is saved. It’s low, and Legzdins dives low to his right and palms it wide.

14 mins – Mark Roberts loses the ball midway in his own half to Richard Walker, who threads a ball through for Shaun Harrad who is challenged in the area, appeals for a penalty but nothing’s given.

29 mins – It all kicks off, with Adam Bolder going in late on Jon Ashton. It was late, and Bolder is booked, but Ashton retaliated and all 22 players get involved in a bit of pushing and shoving, which ends with Holroyd on the floor tussling with a Burton player. Yellow cards for Adam Bolder, Nathan Stanton and Chris Holroyd.

33 mins – Lawrie Wilson knocks the ball between two players as he tries to find a way into the box, goes down when sandwiched between two Burton defenders, with Grocott adjudged the offender, and Boro have given a penalty courtesy of the lineman’s flag. Scott Laird puts his boot through it. Boro go 1-0 up. Shaun Harrad was booked for protesting.

38 mins – Michael Bostwick puts the ball through for Wilson the right. The wide man set off, runs into the box and pings a cross in which John Mousinho is unable to make contact with from eight yards after making a lung-bursting run into the box. Peter Winn fires over from the edge of the box.

43 mins – Free kick on the left. Long takes to Bostwick who runs to the near post, he lays it off to Jon Ashton who pings it at the bar. Boro almost made it 2-0.

45 mins – Mark Roberts tackles substitute James Collins in the box, referee says play on but there were strong shouts for a penalty.

47 mins – LewisYoung is on the right and crosses the ball into the box for Aaron Webster to hit a left-footed effort into the net. 1-1. Boro concede from a goal from the right of midfield yet again.

48 mins – Harrad takes a free kick from 30 yards, too high.

51 mins – Yemi Odubade comes on for Peter Winn, and Mark Roberts goes off and Luke Foster comes on. Roberts was booked in the first half, was becoming increasingly frustrated as the match wore on and the substitution stops him from picking up a second booking.

58 mins – and it’s 2-1 to Boro. Wilson, Boro’s player of the afternoon so far, nicks the ball on the outside of the left-back, runs on the inside, collects the ball, pushes it on 10 yards and cross to Holroyd who makes a sideways bicycle kick from 10 yards. There’s no stopping that. 2-1.

65 mins – Mousinho passes to Holroyd, who scoops a ball over the back line for Odubade to chase. He beats the left-back to it, and runs all of 40 yards until he gets to the 18-yard box where he takes a shot, with a Burton player just a yard or two behind, and kicks it wide. Poor.

70 mins – Stacy Long gets hold of the ball on the left and three seconds of fancy footwork later has the ball in the box. He passes to Holroyd, who passes to Bostwick who shoots wide.

71 – Luke Foster is sent off. He came on to stop Roberts from being sent off, and goes off himself. Last man, foul on Harrad. Day pulls off an outstanding diving save from Webster’s free kick.

74 - Scott Laird booked for closing down a free kick too early. Austin’s free kick hits Odubade and goes out of the ground.

84 mins- Grocott’s long punt up front from left back is aimed towards Aaron Webster running in at the far post, but under pressure from Laird he heads wide from a couple of yards. He never really had the ball under control.

86 mins – Bolder’s free kick from the left is headed over from a stooping Pearson.

Full time

Boro (4-5-1): Day, Henry, Laird, Roberts (Foster, 51), Ashton, Wilson, Winn (Odubade, 51), Mousinho, Bostwick, Long, Holroyd. Subs: Bayes, Charles, Griffin, Bridges, Vincenti.

Burton (4-4-2): Legzdins, Corbett, Austin, Stanton, Boertien (Grocott, 7mins), Webster, Young, Bolder, Maghoma, Walker, Harrad. Subs: Poole, Pearson, Phillips, Collins, Dyer, Gilroy.

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