Game at Hemel On Tuesday

[YELLOW]

Ouch, that's a bit of a thrashing.

[wilma]

To be fair St Albans fielded a young side who I assume were youth/reserves, if more players like your no.15 had started it would've been a different story. Was a close game until Hemel scored 3 in quick succession towards the end of the first half.

 

I saw a post on the forum at www.hertfordshirefootball.co.uk regarding your ground possibly not suitably graded for the Conference - any news at your end if your ground is eligable if you win promotion?

[hemelite]

St Albans team was:

James Lambley,Alex Fraser,Chris Seeby,Nick Roddis,Colin Cattermole,Aaron barrett,Mark Graham,Darren Lancaster,Simon Martin,lee Clarke,Ben Walsh. Subs: Paul Hakim,Dean Cracknell (on for Martin 12 mins), Tom Davis (on for Seeby 50 mins)

Not too bad a side, quite a good mix & only four youth players there i think. Saints fans i spoke to were shocked - they thought they had a strong enough side to win.

[AFF]

James Lambley is the understudy to Paul Bastock, and Andy Frazer, Colin Cattermole and Darren Lancaster are from Steve Castle's PASE team. That will be the first time they have worn the yeller & blue shirt. They aren't reserves as we don't have a reserve team. The rest are 1st team regulars.

 

Presumably, Wilma's reference to our No 15 is Tom Davis who isn't from the PASE set-up.

 

What happened? Someone? Anyone? Hallo!

[Rob_the_Saint]

It was the curse of the white away strip again, AFF. Chuck it out and get the red one back, I say.

 

7 regulars and 4 young 'uns last night. Hemel were 'up for it' and we, er, weren't. Not enough effort by a long chalk and even less in the way of tactics.

 

Darren Lancaster looked lively and should have scored with a lob in the first half, other than that the Yoof were a little out of their depth, but give them a couple of years and who knows.

 

Nice to see Muddy there last night.

[Zagreus]

Well, from my POV we had no defence and no strikers! We started OK up front with Simon Martin, but he had to come off after 10-15 mins because of an injury to his eye (I bet he'll have a shiner today, the swelling came up immediately). I think Cracknell came on for Martin (may be wrong here). Lee Clarke was playing, but very deep and I hardly noticed him at all in the first half. Poor defending and poor goalkeeping cost us the game though - I wasn't impressed with our new goalie at all. Roddis limped off injured towards the end of the second half, and there was a bit of a tussle between Lee Clarke and the Hemel Goalie (The Golaie kind of head butted Clarke in the stomach. He should have walked really, but like our players the ref just couldn't be bothered and just wanted to get the game finished). The only player who can take any credit from last night was Tom Davies. He came on in the second half and looked very lively, scoring the only Saints goal. Fair play to Hemel though. Let's hope we turn up and want to play on Saturday. We are down to 3rd now after Weymouth won last night,it'd be nice to try and hang in there near the top!

[AFF]

Quote:

Rob the Saint said:
......other than that the Yoof were a little out of their depth, but give them a couple of years and who knows.

Err yes Rob. Thanks for that.

Do they have a couple more years on the PASE scheme?

[barca_ultra EFM]

What did you think of the right back, the number 2?

[Rob_the_Saint]

I don't really remember him but a couple of times the defenders were knocked off the ball too easily. Not used to playing such a physically competitive game I guess.

 

Give them a season with London Colney and they'll be fine. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

[AFF]

Yes Rob. Very droll. Ho Ho.

 

We could waste our time debating the absence of the obvious tier of a Reserve team if we are looking for a progression from some form of Youth set-up, whether Steve Castle's PASE squad or the re-establishment of relations with St Albans City Youth FC. It would appear that the opportunity has gone, at least for the immediate future.

 

You made a point on here a couple of weeks ago to the effect that 'hopefully we will see the benefits of a relationship with the PASE thing'. It would be a little unfair to rush to judge those benefits on last night's result alone but it is tempting, nevertheless. However, perhaps you will forgive those who are a little sceptical when the PASE thing is trumpeted as the future of The Mighty Saints in the future.

 

As Zagreus said, last night is over and done with and we should look forward to a return to normal service in the Conference South at the sea-side on Saturday.

 

The Conference Nationale beckons! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/achso.gif" alt="" />

[Nos]

 

 

Rob the Saint said:

Quote:

7 regulars and 4 young 'uns last night

 

7? More like 6. I would hardly describe Walshe as a regular. We did okay for the first half an hour, until the pressure on the inexperienced defence eventually began to tell. The result was hardly surprising in the circumstances, the size of the defeat - yes, a little. Darren Lancaster did really well, considering the hike in level and looks to have great potential.

 

Somehow, I think things will be somewhat different at Weston on Saturday with Bazza, Patrick, Tom, Matt, Simon, Hakkers and Crackers all hopefully back in the fold. 3 points on the table for the taking.

 

 

Come on you Saints <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/top.gif" alt="" />

[AFF]

Hi Nos.

 

[Hackers?]

 

Tell me Nos. How was Ben Walshe. Slim, trim, sylph-like? Gossamer? Two stone down on the end of last season?

 

[..a little...?]

[Zagreus]

I thought Ben Walshe looked ... errr ... very unfit. I don't think he added much to the game at all.