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24.08.2004 at 19:45 Woodside Park Attendance : 409
Bishops Stortford
2 - 0
St Albans City
Referee : Mr M Bull Conference South

Goalscorers
Scott Forbes (21)
Alex Martin (72)
None.
Opening squads
R.Elliott
Anthony Allman
G.Gwillim
D.Rainford
A.Riches
R.Gillman
R.Howell
A.Martin
Paul Hakim
A.Heselton
S.Forbes
Mel Capleton
Dean Hooper
Richard Thomas
Scott Cousins
Ben Martin
Chris Zoricich
Miguel De Souza
Darren Sarll
Jamie Southon
Adam Parker
Lee Clarke
Substitutes
D.Jackman
B.Yiadom
A.Fenton
L.Green
A.Young
James Robinson
Matt Hann
Gary Wraight
Chris Seeby
Spencer Knight
Substitutions
D.Jackman for S.Forbes (76) Chris Seeby -> Ben Martin (52)
Gary Wraight -> Jamie Southon (59)
Matt Hann -> Chris Zoricich (75)
Yellow cards
None Dean Hooper (39)
Lee Clarke (59)
Red cards
None None.
Match report | Preview
Even a floodlight failure of almost 25 minutes late in the second period was not enough to save the Saints from their fourth competitive defeat of the season so far, after only five games. The floodlights were restored, and whilst the Saints had the better of the exchanges in those final 10 minutes, the performance was not enough to restore parity against a reasonably sharp Bishop’s Stortford side.
21 quiet minutes had passed before Stortford broke the deadlock with the very first shot of the game. A cross from Alex Martin was headed away by City defender Ben Martin, only for Scott Forbes to hit a first-time half volley from 20 yards out straight into the back of the net. Only a last ditch tackle from Gareth Gwillim prevented Lee Clarke from equalising five minutes later after a superb through ball from Adam Parker.
Dave Rainford sent a header just wide towards the end of the half, as Stortford applied more pressure on the Saints back-line. 3 minutes from the interval, Paul Hakim was played in behind the Saints defence, only to slip. He regained his balance and fed the completely unmarked Alistair Heselton, who stroked his shot just wide of the left hand upright past the despairing Mel Capleton. Capleton was making his first league start of the campaign since signing in the close season, and the ex-Southend and Grays goalkeeper can be very pleased with his performance, despite conceding two goals, making three very good saves throughout the match to keep a lacklustre City only just in the game.
The second half carried on in much the same way as the first, although the Saints were able to register a number of chances on target. De Souza had a crisp drive saved by Elliott who was lucky to find the ball just about under his diving body rather than creeping towards the goalline. Immediately however, Hakim found himself behind the Saints’ defence again, but the recovering Ben Martin helped send the striker wide, and Capleton was able to parry the ensuing shot.
Capleton was again called upon to save from Hakim as the livewire striker was clean through once more. Minutes later another effort from De Souza was acrobatically tipped over the bar from Elliott. The keeper was then forced to make a low diving save to his right after an effort from Lee Clarke, and then two minutes later a sharp double save from Darren Sarll and Adam Parker as the Saints briefly had the upper hand for the only time in the match.
Stortford then proceeded to double their lead with 20 minutes left. Alex Martin had time and space to shoot low to Capleton’s right from the edge of the area. Two minutes later Capleton made another good save from a Dave Rainford free kick, and then saw Heselton’s cross back in volleyed over from two yards out by Hakim.
City may have thought they were handed a reprieve as first one set of floodlights, and then the other, went out with a little over ten minutes left. It was not to be, however, and an on-hand electrician was able to restore light. After a 25 minute break play was resumed, and there was still time for Hakim to get behind the Saints’ defence for the fourth time in the evening, only to be denied by Capleton once more.

Report by Tom Lewis