Burton 3 Oxford City 2 (FA Cup 1st Round)

There was a time when an FA Cup match at Burton would bring in the crowds. All of the casual, armchair supporters would usually make the effort to come, watch the match with the biggest crowd of the season, watch Burton lose, moan about how Burton are "bloody rubbish" and then bugger off back to their armchairs never to be seen again until the next FA Cup match. Now it seems that unless we are playing Man Utd no-one is that bothered. Our part-time supporters have been spoiled. Chelsea in the 3rd round? "Oh I'm not going to watch that rubbish", Real Madrid in the European Cup? "I'll watch the highlights on the telly", Boca Juniors in the World Club Championship "Why are we playing Boca's Youth Team?".
Our automatic entry into the 1st round proper should have been a cause for great excitement, but alas only the usual hardy couple of thousand made the effort. On a Sunday as well. Who does anything on a Sunday? "Fucking bunch of apathetic wankers." is what I heard someone say about the Burton public, but I'm not sure I'd use such offensive terminology myself.

This was an opportunity for us to be "Giant killed" as opposed to "giant killers" which makes a change. Burton Albion? Giants? Hardly. But the boot was on the other foot and the game almost went to plan in that respect.

Oxford City are the the "other" little non-league club in Oxford, although they have four sides to their ground, which is unusual in that part of the world. Three leagues below us and I feared the worst. We should beat them, but cup football has a funny way of biting arrogance on the arse.
As it happened, they were the better team on the day - they passed better and looked the more dangerous throughout. Their travelling band of supporters (no doubt with a few United fans to make up the numbers) were more vociferous and The Brewers looked out of sorts all game.

They score first after only a few minutes, former Brewer (well for 20 minutes) Michael Alexis hitting one from 18 yards which Polski let run through his grasp. The equaliser came a little while after; Harrad had no chance of getting up to a high ball in the box but his marker pushed him in the back as he jumped and, although soft, a clear penalty. A pointless challenge right in front of the ref. Harrad takes it and scores for a change.
Burton start to look like they might take control of the game (in a hit it and hope sort of way) and "What's that coming over the hill? Is it Maghoma? Is it Maghoma?" Yes it is! Burton finally get the ball on the floor for a bit and start to move it around, Michael Simpson slots a through ball and Maghoma finishes well to make it 2 - 1 at half-time. This is where you think, "Ok, they have started brightly, that's to be expected. We're back on track now, we should get another second half and finish this game off"

But Oxford City are made of much sterner stuff. After the break it is they who take control of the game and the so-called better players of the Albion spend a lot of time chasing shadows as wave after wave of City attacks have to be smothered out by an over-worked Albion back four. Their goal when it comes is well-taken, but resulted from very soft defending. Burton completely fail to deal with a long throw, the ball is crossed and Jamie Brooks is completely unmarked to simply head into an open goal; keeper Krysiek doesn't move.

So it's a well-deserved replay at Oxford? We fear they will get another and it's all hands on deck to keep them out. 5 minutes of injury time and in the final couple of minutes, Oxford do what all non-league teams are expected to do and screw it up.

Serge Makofo is running for the corner flag. If they had seen him play before they would know that leaving him to fall over his own boots would be the best option here. Like the push on Harrad in the first half, doing nothing would have been better. Ballard, already booked, makes a suicidal tackle - not nasty or dangerous, but late and clearly meant to stop the runner. He is walking off the pitch before the red card is produced. The resulting free kick is a text book training ground set-piece. Simpson flights the ball in from the left and Ryan Austin rises just like a rhino doesn't to glance the ball into the net. 3 - 2.

Oxford deserved a draw at least. But despite their dominance for long periods they were there own worst enemy at crucial moments. Still, they should feel proud of their achievements. Burton breathe a sigh of relief. To play badly and win is actually a good sign so they say. A great game for the neutral but a pain in the arse for a Brewers fan.