THIS game really did have it all - seven goals, two dodgy penalties and two red cards.

But an afternoon of high-drama, which saw Salisbury City let slip a 3-1 lead to ultimately succumb in added time, ended with Nick Holmes' side leaving Burton Albion's impressive Pirelli Stadium with nothing to show for their part in an absolute humdinger of a contest.

Burton boss Nigel Clough praised City's performance which he accepted, had brought the very best out of his own team, who landed the spoils with a spot kick five minutes into added time.

It wasn't the first time Holmes had come off second best against the Clough family.

In 1979, as a Southampton player, the City boss was on target at Wembley in the League Cup final against a Nottingham Forest side led by Nigel's legendary father, Brian.

Clough Snr famously guided his team to victory only after letting rip at half-time after Holmes and his team mates had run the future European champions ragged.

"Burton are one of the best footballing teams I've seen in this league," said Holmes.

But City had threatened to end the hosts' ten-match un-beaten run, despite trailing to a Keith Gilroy shot, deflected in off Aaron Webster.

Matt Tubbs levelled on 35 minutes with a penalty, somewhat harshly awarded against John Brayford for what had looked an accidental handball.

However, there was nothing fortunate about City's second goal.

A swift break led to a stunning cross-field pass by Wayne Turk into the path of Robbie Matthews.

The Whites striker oozed class as he beat his marker and then got the better of Albion custodian Kevin Poole, much to the delight of the travelling City fans among the 1,632 crowd.

Burton had wasted a number of promising chances, but Whites had defended like demons when they had to and goalkeeper Ryan Clarke was in truly inspired form.

But the game turned just six minutes into the second half when Turk lunged at the ball near the half-way line but mistimed his tackle, catching Andy Gooding.

It looked worse than it actually was - Holmes admitted that in his day, it might not even have been a yellow card, but referee West had no hesitation in reaching for a red.

City again rode their luck - Clarke resisting Albion's advances time and again.

But another slick break suddenly saw Whites extend their lead.

Tubbs brought the ball down beautifully from Clarke's long kick and stuck away his sixth goal of the campaign with real aplomb.

Clough urged his side forward and they threw everything but the kitchen sink at the City goal, but still Whites held firm - Clarke again proving irrepressible.

But Albion got a crucial foothold back in the game ten minutes from time when Mark Greaves' effort went in off the post to make it 3-2.

Eight minutes later they were level - substitute Ryan Taylor finding the net after the ball fell his way following another blocked shot.

Matthews, by now the solitary City figure up front, chased every lost cause and so nearly had the opportunity to put the game beyond the hosts.

His pace took him to the edge of the penalty box only for home skipper Greaves to commit the professional foul that not only ended his in-volvement in the game - referee West rightly showing another red card - but robbed Matthews of the chance to be Salisbury's match-winner.

Burton, who had been caught on the hop, were now able to defend the subsequent free kick in numbers.

Worse was to follow for City as five minutes into stoppage time, Clarke was harshly penalised as Goodfellow went to ground at the other end and Daryl Clare made no mistake from the spot kick.

It's certainly a cruel game at times, but this one was also a cracker!

5:27pm Wednesday 10th October 2007

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