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28.01.2006 at 15:00 Clarence Park Attendance : 526
St Albans City
3 - 1
Basingstoke Town
Referee : S Rubery (Essex) Conference South match

Goalscorers
Lee Clarke (4)
Lee Clarke (18)
Lee Clarke (56)
James Taylor (89)
Opening squads
Paul Bastock
Nick Burton
Tom Davis
Ben Lewis
Matt Hann
Ranbir Marwa
Lee Clarke
Simon Martin
Ben Walshe
Lee Flynn
Chris Seeby
Stuart Seale
Lee Molyneaux
Wayne Heath
Jason Bristow
Mark Patterson
Ben Surey
David Ray
Justyn McKay
Martin Whiddett
James Taylor
Lewis Cook
Substitutes
Dean Cracknell
Mark Burgess
Mark Nwokeji
Paul Hakim
Patrick Ada
Danny Brown
Ricci Dolan
Scott Smith
Andrew Smallpiece
Sacha Funes
Substitutions
Patrick Ada -> Nick Burton (56)
Paul Hakim -> Simon Martin (75)
Dean Cracknell -> Tom Davis (81)
Ricci Dolan -> Wayne Heath (66)
Scott Smith -> Martin Whiddett (66)
Sacha Funes -> Lee Molyneaux (73)
Yellow cards
None. None
Red cards
None. None
Match report

Lee Clarke celebrates his hatrick
Lee Clarke’s fourth St Albans City hat-trick strengthened the Saints bid for the Conference South championship at a sunny but cold Clarence Park on Saturday as City moved to within six points of leaders Weymouth with an easy victory over a poor Basingstoke Town side.
City showed just glimpses of their best form yet should still have won by six or more against Ernie Howe’s side but other than for Clarke the finishing did not match some fine approach work.
Promotion seeking Saints welcomed back Ram Marwa on-loan from Dagenham with Patrick Ada standing down until coming on early in the second half to give a polished display.
After two unconvincing performances City started positively with Simon Martin playing particularly well and linking superbly with Clarke. And it was Martin who was instrumental in the opening goal on four minutes as he turned neatly out on the City left and crossed towards the back post where Lee Molyneaux did well to concede just a corner as Matt Hann waited to pounce. From Ben Walshe’s inswinging corner Stewart Searle dived forward to punch the ball away low but only put it as far as Clarke who promptly despatched it into the centre of the goal from ten yards.
Basingstoke should have equalised within a minute when a hideous mix up between the again outstanding Ben Lewis and Nick Burton allowed James Taylor a free shot at goal that went yards wide. Marwa squandered a good chance to mark his return with a goal before another defensive calamity set up Taylor again before Burton blocked for a corner.
Thereafter City dominated the half and went two ahead on 18 minutes. Hann, a constant problem for Stoke during the half, crossed from the City right for Martin to beat Searle in the air and send a header into the foot of the post, as the ball rolled along the goalline Clarke tore in to poke home his second of the day.
Another City goal feast was on the cards and on 21 minutes Marwa freed Hann whose excellent ball was chested down by Clarke but unfortunately blazed well over. Clarke just failed to turn the ball in after Searle flapped at a Marwa cross and Walshe shot powerfully but straight at the keeper while a slick move involving Martin, Clarke and Walshe saw Martin continue his run through the middle only to shoot gently to Searle’s left and allow him to get down and save.
The second period kicked off in much the same fashion with City three up on 56 minutes as Walshe slid a delightful curling ball down the left all along the ground for the advancing Martin to side-stepped Jason Bristow and cut it back for Clarke to fire powerfully home with his right foot.
Basingstoke were staring down both barrels at this point but the normally goal-hungry Saints were in inexplicably lenient mood and seemed content with what they had, even so a scintillating move involving several players on 70 minutes ended with Tom Davis squaring a pass to Hann who looked certain to score until Searle blocked with his legs.
As City sat back Basingstoke took the opportunity to move forward with greater confidence and after the lively Lewis Cook had tested Paul Bastock Stoke crowned their best period with Taylor firing crisply into the Hatfield Road goal from a Ricci Dolan pass on 89 minutes.


Match report by Dave Tavener. Kindly supplied by The St Albans Observer.