Matches

SAINTS GO MARCHING OUT by Carol Smith-Allen

Blues go through to the next round of the FA Cup after defeating St. Albans City 4-2 in what proved to be a tough, physical encounter.

After a slow start, Blue’s took the lead on 7 minutes when following some smart interplay between Freddy Eastwood and Leroy Griffiths the ball was met by Martin Carthy, whose powerful strike from 25 yards out easily evaded Saints keeper Barry White.

Blue’s then took more control of the game, but on 21 minutes the referee awarded Saints a penalty, after Mel Capleton was adjudged to have bundled Nic McDonnell off the ball. Saints, Graeme Tomlinson wasted no time in putting the ball into the back of the net, and this goal lifted Saints, who then proceeded to dominate play for the next 10 minutes.

However, blues did pick-up, and on 37 minutes they regained the lead, when Freddy Eastwood, under pressure from the opposition turned inside, and shot into the bottom right-hand corner. Blue’s joy was short-lived though, when Saints levelled just before half-time, with what was surely the easiest goal of the game; Graeme Tomlinson’s long shot found Scott Oakes in plenty of space, leaving him just to lob the ball over Mel Capleton.

The second half started with Saints again on top, and in the 57th minute they had a great scoring opportunity, but hit the post, with the rebound then hitting the bar; however, by this time the linesman had raised his flag for offside. Then three minutes later they created another good chance, only to see Mel Capleton make two superb saves.

On 70 minutes, against the run of play, Leroy Griffiths put in a lovely ball for Freddy Eastwood to score his second. This caused scenes of jubilation from Blue’s fans, and Alan Barnard jumped so high he looked like he was about to take off!!

Play then continued at a livelier pace, with Saints having a very good chance on 86 minutes when a shot in from the left skimmed across goal and over the bar. Blue’s cleared the subsequent corner, and then broke to score their fourth; a simple lob from Stuart Thurgood. Blue's were certainly making their chances count, and they almost made it five in the very last minute, when following a shot from Dean Bradshaw, Barry White caught but then dropped the ball, and try as he might Carthy couldn’t get to it before White reclaimed it.

This was definitely not the most entertaining or exciting match to watch, but with a place in the next round of the FA Cup at stake, the result was all that really mattered. WELL DONE BLUES!!!

Teams:
St. Albans:- White, Gledhil, Murray, Seeby, De Souza, Wraight, Williams, Castle, McDonnell, Tomlinson, Oakes Subs:- Martin, Cross, Brown, Cogger, Hanson

Grays Athletic:- Capleton, Bruce, Robinson, Olayinka, Williams, Thurgood, Marwa, Carthy, Eastwood, Hayzelden, Griffiths Subs:- Lunan, Barrett, Bradshaw, Lock, Stimson

Referee:- K. Batchelor

Attendance:- 420

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Your comments

Wot a great result, yes we're on the way again. Let's keep going onwards and upwards. Come on the Blues!!!

I Agree Brillant result great performance i was there well done Blues

COME ON U BLUES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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