Stevenage 1-2 Burton Albion: Brewers ensure Boro's play-off hopes droop

Martin Patterson's Brewers ensured Boro's play-off hopes drooped while boosting their own hopes of avoiding relegation from League One.

In front of 4,040 at the Lamex former Manchester United academy reject Mark Helm and Tom Hamer grabbed the goals that boosted Burton's hopes of avoiding relegation – while all but ending Stevenage's chances of making the League One play-offs.

Helm's opener for the Brewers came after Joe Powell's corner was flicked on by Sam Hughes, which saw the 21-year--old former Old Trafford youth player squeeze the ball home in the second minute of first half injury time.

Stevenage, playing in their special yellow and blue third strip to help boost a local hospice charity, hosted the visitors at the Lamex for the first time in a decade with the aim of keeping their faint play-off hopes alive.

However, Steve Evans side could not break down the visitors despite applying plenty of pressure in the second half.

Jamie Reid had a shot saved moments after the break, the Northern Ireland international having his effort denied by Brewers' keeper Max Crocombe.

In a busy spell, the shotstopper made an excellent save to prevent Harvey White's long-range strike.

Elliott List's lobbed effort was cleared off the line by Burton's Jasper Moon and Toto Nsiala, before the ball fell to Reid, whose strike was deflected over.

On 54 minutes, Reid had a powerful drive tipped over by 30-year-old New Zealander Crocombe as the home side pressed for an equaliser.

Boro's hopes were all but extinguished when referee Ben Toner sent off Dan Butler for tangling with goalscorer Helm, the latter receiving a yellow card for the incident that saw Boro down to ten men for the last 28 minutes.

That was before 24-year-old Hamer smashed the ball past Boro keeper Craig Macgillivray following Hughes' scuffed shot on 75 minutes.  Despite Kane Hemmings slotting home on 88 minutes, Burton held on for all three points to ensure they remain outside the relegation places, following Port Vale's 3-2 home defeat by Exeter.

Speaking after the match, Brewers' boss and former Inter Miami assistant manager Martin Patterson said:"