USEFUL EXERCISE FOR ALBION AWAY TO REDS

IT WILL ultimately be no more significant than losing the first preseason friendly to Chesterfield but Burton Albion won their second outing, beating Alfreton Town 1-0 at the Impact Arena on Saturday.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

There is never any harm in a win and a goal and Charlie Webster, who did not play against the Spireites, scored the only goal after half-an-hour.

As before, Albion played two teams but this time the second, less experienced, one took over ater 60 minutes.

It took only a few minutes for Albion to fashion a chance.

JJ McKiernan found Fabio Tavares, who played Jack Armer into the box but his shot found the side-netting.

There were shouts for a penalty when Charlie Webster crossed from the right and Max Hunt bundled the ball back to keeper George Willis with Albion claiming handball.

Moments later, Webster could have opened the scoring when a neat flick from Jake Beesley left him one-on-one with Willis.

The goalkeeper got down to his left to parry Webster's shot.

Alfreton’s first chance came from a set-piece.

A deep corner to the far post nearly found centre-back Adam Anson but Jasper Moon got there first in a crowd of players.

A water break midway through the first half was essential in the heat and Albion took the lead shortly after it.

A ball over the top found Webster charging into the box again and this time he took only one touch, lifting the ball over Willis to score.