Brighton & Hove Albion 4 Vs 0 Shrewsbury Town
Hart (7)
Zamora (36)
Carpenter (55)
Zamora (82)
s/o Redmile (90)
Half Time: 2 - 0
Division 3 Match
Saturday, 25 November, 2000 3:00 pm
Withdean Stadium Att:6556
With heavy rain falling overnight, and continuing on the morning of the game, Albion's clash with Shrewsbury was looking like it may fall victim to the weather. However, referee Paul Danson inspected the pitch at 2.00pm and gave the go ahead for the match to be played.
Albion started well, with Nathan Jones going close with a cross shot in the fourth minute. Three minutes later, Bobby Zamora was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Matthew Redmile. From the resulting corner, Gary Hart reacted to lash the ball home from close range. The former Stansted striker has been a constant menace to the Shrews - it was his fourth goal in five games against them.
After Albion had taken the lead, the rain began to really lash down for a spell, and Micky Adams's main worry must have been that match official Danson would abandon the game if the conditions worsened further.
The rain finally stopped, and Zamora had the ball in the back of the net on 33 minutes, heading over Ian Dunbavin, but the striker was adjudged to have been offside.
Four minutes later Zamora scored in similar fashion. Paul Watson took a quick free-kick, and Zamora sent a looping header over Dunbavin as he charged from his goal.
Shrewsbury responded with their best attack of the first half, Sam Aiston's dangerous low cross was well held by Michel Kuipers. Albion's final foray of the half saw David Hughes head away Nathan Jones shot.
The first five minutes of the second half saw Gary Hart denied on three separate ocassions. Th first of his trio of chances, on 47 minutes, saw Dunbavin deny him - stopping the ball with his foot - as Hart raced clean through down the inside-right channel. The Shrewsbury keeper was at it again a minute later, saving a fierce shot from Hart, latching on to a Zamora flick on from Watson's long ball forward. Hart's third chance in as many minutes, saw him get in behind the Shrews back line again, and as he motored into the box, his square ball, with the Shrews all at sea, just aluded Zamora.
Albion's third wasn't long in coming though. Jones was fouled by Ross Davidson, and Richard Carpenter - scorer of a free-kick on Match of the Day last Saturday - scored an even better one this week. He drove home a terrific effort, from the edge of the penalty area, which flew into the roof of the net.
Six minutes later, Wicks - another who scored in Albion's cup tie last week - was also denied his second goal in seven days by a fabulous reaction save from Dunbavin. Mayo went close from the corner, hooking a half-cleared ball just wide of the left-hand upright.
Shortly before Albion's fourth arrived, Adams brought on former Shrewsbury forward Lee Steele, in place of Hart, while captain Paul Rogers made way for birthday boy Paul Brooker - 24 today.
On 82 minutes, Zamora got his second of the afternoon and 13th of the season. The teenager reacted quickest to snap up the loose ball, after Dunbavin had parried Richard Carpenter's 30-yard piledriver.
Scott Ramsay immediatly replaced Zamora - who left the field to a standing ovation. Ramsay was making his first appearance since early September. Shrewsbury's misery was compounded in stoppage time when Matthew Redmile was sent off for kicking out at Ramsay.
The result - which delighted manager Micky Adams - pushed Albion closer to leaders Chesterfield. The gap is now three points, though it could have been smaller. Two goals in the last five minutes salvaged a point for Nicky Law's side at Halifax - Albion's visitors next week.
Brighton & Hove Albion Team
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Started: Kuipers, Watson, Mayo, Cullip, Jones, Rogers (Brooker 73), Oatway, Carpenter, Wicks, Hart (Steele 73), Zamora (Ramsey 83)
Subs Not Used: Crosby, Melton
Yellow: Mayo (38)
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Shrewsbury Town Team
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Started: Dunbavin, Jenkins, Hughes, Redmile, Davidson, Wilding, Aiston (Murray 63), Keister (Freestone 46), Peer (Brown 63), Jemson, Jagielka
Subs Not Used: Edwards, Lowe
Yellow: Keister (27), Davidson (55)
Red: Redmile (90)
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League Status
Pos P W D L GD Pts
2 19 12 3 4 20 39
Current Form
W W W D W W
Last Match
25 Nov Shrewsbury 4:0 (h)
Next 3 Matches
2 Dec Halifax (h)
5 Dec Cardiff (h)
9 Dec Scunthorpe (a)
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