Lee Clarke
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The Saints secured a very welcome three points, their first away win since the opening day of the season, and a first League victory in 6 outings under new manager Colin Lippiatt. This is the first of the 'return' matches, a sign that the half-way mark of the season is approaching, and City reproduced the scoreline from the meeting of these two sides at Clarence Park in September.
Further player movements during the past week saw the return to Peterborough of striker Matt Nolan at the end of his loan period, the release of midfielder Adam Parker and the transfer listing at his own request of Dean Hooper, suspended today. Lippiatt opted for yet another formation with the recall of 18 year old striker Tom Beech to play a lone forward role supported just behind by Lee Clarke. Ram Marwa was recalled to the midfield in place of Parker and James Gibson continues to deputise for Hooper.
City started brightly, clearly the better organised of the two sides. The experienced Paul Bastock in goal directed the young back four and they were largely untroubled throughout. A couple of rare early crosses from the home side were well taken by the City keeper who clearly gives confidence to those around him.
Ben Walshe, returning to the side from injury, tested Stuart Searle the home keeper with a long range effort, and Beech, working hard alone up front pressured the keeper who frantically cleared to the side-line. Against the run of play, Bastock was required to show his pedigree with a full stretch save of a fierce drive from Sam Saunders from distance.
On 28 miinutes, City deservedly took the lead. Nick Roddis was cynically brought down after a run wide on the left and Ram Marwa sent the free-kick into the crowded area. The ball struck the outstretched foot of Carroll and beat the despairing dive of the surprised Searle.
Roddis took another knock and was replaced by the popular local youngster Chris Seeby which, setting aside Bastock, brought the average age of the City side to under 21.
The visitors came close to extending the lead just before the break. Tom Davis sent a long crossfield pass to Beech who controlled the ball well before making a short pass to Walshe coming on at pace but his curling effort was inches wide.
The Robins briefly threatened at the start of the second half but found the City defence resolute. Bastock blocked a firm drive from Bradley Pritchard and moments later, the only moment of confusion in defence caused by a deflection gave a chance to Adrian Stone but he could only fire high.
City settled and took control of the game once more before extending their lead with a fine goal on 65 minutes. Marwa found Clarke who sent Beech on a run on the right flank. The youngster hit an inch perfect cross to the feet of Clarke who who struck a super shot to give Searle no chance. This was Clarke's 16th goal of the season and his seventh in the last 7 games.
The Saints piled on the pressure, playing football that belied their League status. Beech had a good claim for a penalty denied when apparently impeded by Matt York, and then came close to opening his account for City but was thwarted by a desperate goal-line clearnance by Mark Costello. Searle saved an apparently goal-bound effort from Seeby befiore the visitors third goal on 76 minutes.
Beech juggled the ball to keep possession, played a neat one-two, and hit a square ball to Scott Cousins. The strikers spread to left and right taking defenders with them and space opened for the advancing left-back who calmly shot inside the right hand post from just outside the area, his first goal in a City shirt.
The Saints continued to press and both Walshe and substitute Matt Hann came close to extending their lead before the home side scored a consolation goal through Stone with two minutes of time remaining. The visitors ended the game on the attack when Searle did well to block a Hann effort.
Report by Tom Lewis
One more troubled week for St Albans City ended with some welcome seasonal good cheer for the Saints at Colston Avenue on Saturday as Colin Lippiatt’s side chalked up their first Nationwide South double of the season and their first away win since the opening day of the season.
Unfortunately results elsewhere deemed that City stay bottom of the table but the result was a triumph for Lippiatt who opted to play with Lee Clarke in a much deeper role than is usual with Tom Beech as a lone striker. Against what admittedly was limited opposition, the tactic was a total success and comes just a week after the Saints fourth boss this season employed an intriguing line up at Grays the previous week, also with a certain amount of success.
Once a Ram Marwa free kick had been diverted past his own keeper by Carshalton Athletic captain Danny Carroll there was scant suggestion that the Saints would not be taking home all three points as City’s sheer doggedness and organisation proved too much for their hosts.
Playing down the slope City during the first half made the more positive start of the two sides although Saints keeper Paul Bastock also had to deal with a couple of dangerous early Robins crosses, something that he did with great aplomb. Bastock used his experience well to help organise a side that, taking himself and skipper Nick Roddis out of the equation, had an average of under 21.
Ben Walshe, making light of a damaged left knee, tested home keeper Stuart Searle with an early long range effort while Searle almost lost out when he tried to waltz his way around Tom Beech who forced the keeper into panicking to toe-poke the ball out wide to safety. Beech went on to have by far his best game for the Saints despite having little around him in the way of support.
Midway through the half Sam Saunders, who was the most eye-catching Carshalton player on show, went on a mazy run past three City players before seeing his well struck rising drive palmed over by the diving Bastock. Five minutes later, the 28th, City were ahead.
Roddis surged down the City left until being brought down by Billy Harding. While the former England semi-professional international was off the pitch having treatment, Ram Marwa, a day after his 24th birthday, swung a low right-footed free-kick towards the middle of the penalty area where it caught the flaying boot of Carroll and skidded under his own goalkeeper and into the goal.
Roddis received a second knock shortly after and gave way to Chris Seeby who not only revelled in his central midfield role but also got forward a couple of times in the second half to trouble the Robins.
With City’s defence completely snuffing out what little threat Carshalton posed it was something of a surprise when Bastock had to deal with a free-kick by Saunders. City almost doubled their lead on 43 minutes when Tom Davis swept a marvellous diagonal ball across to Beech who controlled it with ease before pushing it into the path of Walshe whose curling cross just evaded the back post.
Attacking towards the bottom goal during the second period it was anticipated that Carshalton would at last put some pressure on the visitors goal, instead they found a central defensive duo of Gary Elphick and Ben Martin close on impregnable while full-backs Scott Cousins and James Gibson hardly put a foot wrong.
On the occasions that Carshalton did break through Bastock was in no mood to be beaten. On 48 minutes he beat out a fierce drive from Bradley Pritchard; shortly after a bizarre deflection tempted Bastock from his penalty area but the Robins failed to capitalise with Adrian Stone firing over. At the opposite end Clarke had a header then shot saved following a corner from Walshe and a Cousins through ball.
The Saints deservedly increased their lead on 65 minutes with a goal that belies their bottom of the table status. Marwa passed to Clarke who sent Beech away down the visitor’s right flank. Beech timed his low cross to perfection for the incoming Clarke to strike a clean right-footed drive to Searle’s left for his seventh goal in as many games.
Beech had good claims for a penalty rejected when Matt York fell into the back of the towering striker while two miscued back passes by Pritchard and Mark Costello let in Beech who got around Searle only to have the ball whipped away by the retreating and relieved Costello.
City were now opening up the Robins almost at will with Seeby having a fine effort parried by Searle before an excellent third goal arrived on 76 minutes. Beech, following a neat bit of keepy-up, played a slick one-two before laying a square ball across the middle of the Robins half to Cousins. With Walshe darting wide and taking a couple of defenders with him space opened up for Cousins who calmly advanced before beating Searle low to the keeper’s right with a low shot from 19 yards; it was his first goal in open play since January last year.
City refused to sit on their lead and went close to scoring again through Walshe and substitute Matt Hann before, on 88 minutes, Gary Elliott cut a pass back for Stone to reduce the arrears with a crisp shot inside Bastock’s right hand post; City still await their first away clean sheet in the Nationwide South.
Still St Albans were not finished though and Searle had to spread himself well to block a low drive from Hann after the impressive Beech had freed him.
Report by Dave Tavener |
