League action today. If we win the last 19 games of the season, we will have 89 points which may not be enough for the title but it will set an interesting target.
It starts here today at Aldershot. 75 minutes by car on the M25 and M3 Motorways to a ground with disappointing clubhouse and facilities in the light of their former Football League status. Why don't they extend the clubhouse into the tea-bar? Not my problem. Perhaps the reason for the size of their travelling support is to see how the other half live in the Ryman.
Aldershot Town. Former Football League Club, one of the best supported sides in non League football with home gates in excess of 2000. Managed by the experienced George Borg, a real character. I wonder if he is the father of Bjorn or the son of Victor?. I'd better check that.
The Shots are in 4th place in the Ryman Premier League this morning with 41 points from 20 outings, beaten only 3 times, and they are 6 points behind League leaders Farnborough but with 1 game in hand. Every game is a big game. They have former City ..er...er..player Wayne Andrews up front in a formidable partnership with Gary Abbott. Hot property.
JK selected Hurst in goal, 4 at the back, Rooney, Goddard (C), Moran and Ben Andrews, 4 in the middle, Pratt, Blainey, Davis and Knight, and 2 up front, Strevens and Simba. On the bench were Piper, Simpson and Evans.
Aldershot dominated the first 25 minutes playing crisp, tight, controlled football. Hurst had a nightmare first 12 minutes spilling several crosses and then a corner which he helped directly into the net, an own-goal claimed by the winger. However, Hurst then showed his class for the rest of the game starting with 3 excellent saves within a few moments. Something kick-started City and we came back into the game. On the half-hour a great move involving Strevens, Simba and Pratt who crossed for Davis to head his first goal for the Club. 5 minutes later and Blainey was put through to make it 2. H.T. 1,2.
Saints took control of the second half with the back 4 comfortable, a solid debut for Andrews, Blainey and Davis dictating the midfield, Knight roasting his full-back and my MotM, Strevens covering every part of the Shots' half hurrying their defence.
After 15 minutes or so, a fierce shot from distance by Strevens could only be blocked by Pape in goal and Simba was on hand to coolly chip the prostrate keeper. 1,3. Piper replaced the tiring Simba. Aldershot pressed but City dealt with all attacks with ease, with Hurst outstanding, until the 90th minute when Abbott scored from close range. F.T. 2,3.
A crowd of 2264, with some 250 travelling City Faithful, saw a very good game of football. Aldershot will be asking themselves how they fell apart to suffer their 3rd consecutive defeat. Pressure on Borg. For City, a fine team performance and that's successive victories against former Football League opposition. They will hope to make it a hat-trick against Chester next week.
Atmosphere 8/10. Entertainment 9/10. Technical Merit 8/10. Referee 8/10.
Next up. A great away trip to Conference side Chester City for the 4th round of The F.A. Trophy next Saturday. Cup fever on The Road To Villa Park. They might as well close the City Centre in view of the exodus. Then back at home on Tuesday, February 6th when we entertain Carshalton Athletic in a re-arranged League fixture.
Report by Awayday
St Albans City warmed up for this weekend's FA Trophy tie at Chester City with a stunning victory over championship chasing Aldershot Town at the Recreation Ground that not only handed the Shots a third successive Ryman League defeat but also gave the Saints the satisfaction of ending the last unbeaten home record in the Premier Division.
The possibility of St Albans winning at the Rec for a third consecutive year looked remote early on after a horrendous error by goalkeeper Richard Hurst handed the Shots an early lead and for 25 minutes City were repeatedly exposed and facing a substantial hammering. But, to their immense credit, City stayed composed and once the midfield got a grip on proceedings the visitors were able to push forward and expose a defence which, on this evidence, will be the deciding factor in denying George Borg's side from lifting the championship.
Playing down the slope and into a slight wind during the first half City were quickly pushed back although a long shot from Amara Simba, who was in excellent form, kept veteran keeper Andy Pape on his toes. Even so it was of little surprise when the Shots went ahead on 12 minutes. Hurst, hindered by bright sunshine searing into his eyes, flapped weakly at an Ian Hathaway corner which had to headed out for another Aldershot corner. This time the ball was curled in from the Shots left by Mark Graham and Hurst, with his arms high above his head, merely helped turn the ball inside the back post.
Aldershot kept City pinned down with a succession of corners whilst a brilliant run by Hathaway past three City players also threatened more danger until his shot was blocked. City bounced back on 21 minutes through Spencer Knight who waltzed past two defenders before crossing to the back post where Simba headed wide. Knight went on to give on loan Stevenage defender Ryan Kirby a torrid debut.
Two minutes later two perfect touches by Knight and Simba freed Ben Strevens whose low shot from inside the penalty area was turned around the post by Pape. City were now starting to get to grips with the game but were thankful to Hurst for a tremendous save from a Matt Crossley header after a Holloway corner had flicked off the head of a City player. Hurst again proved his worth when blocking a point blank header from Gary Abbott, in the scramble that ensued Stafford Browne just failed to force the ball home.
Having exposed the home defence a couple times down either flank City fully turned the match on its head with two top quality goals inside six minutes. The equaliser on 37 minutes was a gem as a low ball down the right was collected by Simba, his cushioned pass to Strevens was crossed towards the near post where the impressive Danny Davis claimed his first Ryman League goal with a diving header across Pape.
Six minutes later David Pratt and Simba combined down the right and from the latters through ball Steve Blaney nipped into the penalty area and marked his league debut for the Saints with a deflected low effort wide of Pape into the back of the net.
Aldershot began the second period in much the same fashion as they did the first with heavy pressure on the visitors goal but by now City were defending in most commanding fashion with Ryan Moran and Richard Goddard absolute rocks in the middle while Ben Andrews looks an excellent acquisition down the left.
Indeed, although goal chances were far more infrequent after the break, it was City who looked the more likely outfit to score again and in the 67th minute Aldershot were undone for a third time. Strevens, whose seemingly tireless workrate unsettled the home defence throughout, tested Pape with a drive from outside the penalty area. The ball bounced in front of the keeper who spilled the effort and could only looked on dejectedly as Simba latched onto the loose ball and bounced a shot into the ground and over the prostrate keeper for his fifth goal in eight games for the Saints.
A late Aldershot flurry saw former City striker Wayne Andrews help the ball onto Martin Kuhl whose powerful shot was excellently saved by the now fully redeemed Hurst. As the minutes ticked by City's vocal travelling support fully drowned out the locals, many of whom drifted away long before the final whistle, and the Saints almost had cause for further celebration as a cross by Knight clipped the top of the crossbar.
But it was Aldershot who had the last word as Richard Gell burst into the box and slipped a low ball into the middle for the ageless Abbott to tap home his 24th goal of the season.
Report by Dave Tavener |