If The Brazillians Had Scored 'Em

[GHA EFM]

3 goals straight out of the top drawer saw the Saints defeat the Wooood by 3 goals to 1. Two strikes by Wayne Burnet (ex Leyton Orient), including a fantastic flick up, flick over a defender and volley straight into the top corner, and a goal from Mark Graham, saw City record their first pre-season win so far. More info to come, no doubt...

[Woody]

Not to mention a high class performance on the night by Scott Oakes. I'm beginning to look forward to this season.

[ESG]

cheers for the report

[Little Miss Urchin]

Quote:

Two strikes by Wayne Burnet, including a fantastic flick up, flick over a defender and volley straight into the top corner, and a goal from Mark Graham, saw City record their first pre-season win so far.

How many attempts?!

[Rob_the_Saint]

Back to last night's game...

 

The starting line-up was pretty much as we are all predicting, except Steve Castle was in for Matt Glynn and Miguel De Souza was in place of Corey. Tomlinson was there (on the bench?) but didn't feature on the pitch.Smudger still doesn't look match-fit to me. A fair number of chances in the first half but either directed straight at Imber or well over the bar.

 

Second half was better, with Scotty moving over to replace Rob Smith and Burnett (ex-Grays) in the middle. Once we scored we never looked back and could have got a couple more. We eased off a bit near the end and they got a consolation. Decent crowd of about 150 with 30-40 from St A.

[GHA EFM]

Quote:

Once we scored we never looked back and could have got a couple more

Er, we did, Rob.

[AFF]

You didn't leave before the end, did you Rob? And still managed a match report?

 

Those 'couple more' were crackers, too!

 

 

[Rob_the_Saint]

D'oh!! You know what I mean. Add 'than we did' to the end of that sentence. And yes, I was there until the end, thanks for asking.

[HelenC]

I was very impressed with the work of quite a few of out players out there in the second half especially. McDonnell, Oakes, Burnett and Graham. Does anyone know what is happening regarding Burnett?

 

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[Woody]

Boreham Wood's version for anyone who's interested. We must have been good, even they are saying so. I'm not so sure about the first half, though.

 

Pre-Season Friendly

Boreham Wood 1 - 3 St Albans City

 

Report by: John Mead

 

As expected this friendly between the two local rivals was played out as a full bloodied competitive dual. The standard of football displayed by the visitors was high, outclassing the Wood in every department in a very one-sided affair.

 

Boreham Wood struggled throughout to maintain possession especially in the midfield . St Albans went on the offensive from the whistle, playing into channels on the attack, and giving the Wood no time to settle. McDonnell was played in after 4 minutes, his close range effort blocked by home keeper Noel Imber, who positioned himself well.

 

Nervously Wood reverted to the long ball, which a competent City back line dealt with easily. On 19 minutes Lee Harvey sent a fine 40 yard pass upfield for Sammy Winston to chase. The Wood forward was impeded, winning a free kick. However Winstons retaliation to the foul earnt him a cooling off period on the bench at the advice of referee Mr Jones. This gave manager Steve Browne the opportunity to test out a strike partnership of Leon Gutzmore and Gary Dixon in the latters first game this season. Frustratingly the dominance of the visitors yielded little insight into this combination.

 

The Wood defence included triallist Nathan Moulds at right back who appeared to settle in very quickly to the task. Indeed the new look Wood defence turned in a commendable 45 minutes work to maintain parity at half time.

 

The start of the second half produced only two substitutions, both for the visitors, adding to the feel that this was a serious competition.

 

St Albans centre forward Martin could have put his side ahead, firstly on 48 minutes when receiving a throw from Gledhill he managed two shots on goal from close range, then after a fine penetrative run from Oakes he mishit the ball when played in just yards from goal.

 

Substitute Burnett succeeded where Martin failed, when receiving a short pass outside the penalty area his first touch left the Wood defence trailing, his last a fine looping shot past keeper Imber after bursting into the penalty area with speed.

The goal was followed by the visitors best spell, with the Wood defence capitulating under the strain. On 56 minutes Burnett again did well to shoot under pressure after good work from McDonnell, this time Imber dived to his left to keep the scoreline respectable.

 

Only a fine point blank save from Imber from the hapless Martin denied St Albans a wonder goal, his effort the end product of a fine sweeping move that criss crossed the park with ease.

 

On 65 minutes McDonnell took delivery of a long ball through the centre, and with the defence absent Imber was drawn out. McDonnell ran through pulling the ball back for Graham to slot home into an unguarded net.

 

With fifteen minutes remaining Wood finally came into the game. Winstons long-range effort was spilled by Wilmot, allowing Dixons predatory instincts to engage, unfortunately miskicking his effort wide from just 6 yards.

 

A minute later Harvey connected to a Nick Grime cross with a powerful goalbound header which Wilmot tipped over. The resultant corner was played to Winston on the edge of the box, who produced his moment of magic curling an exquisite shot with the outside of his boot, which cannoned back off the upright.

 

With eight minutes remaining a counter attack saw Burnett grab his second, once more Imber forced off his line due to lack of defensive cover, allowing the forward to dance skillfully round the keeper and steer home.

 

Woods consolation goal came with two minutes remaining. A corner to the edge of the penalty area allowed Corey Browne to lay up for Harvey whose rasping drive was diverted away from Wilmot and into the net by Dixon.

 

Team: Imber (Drake89), Moulds, N Grime, R Browne, Harvey, Sappleton(Gabriel 79), Nabil(Jones74), Yemi(Winston 38), Winston(Gutzmore20), Dixon(J Hawes90), C Browne.

Other subs used: Williams 53 for Gutzmore.

 

Goals: St Albans; Burnett 51, 82. Graham 65.

Boreham Wood: Dixon 88.