2-1 to St Albans - only 9 minutes played!!

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Apparently!!

[Boot CleanerEFM]

http://www.sacfc.co.uk/livematches.php

[Boot CleanerEFM]

3-1 !!!!

[saintlewis]

3-2

[YELLOW]

Blimey! Laz will be having a heart attack if this continues!!

[Webbo MFI]

3 3

[YELLOW]

I sense a cardiac arrest!!!

[Boot CleanerEFM]

losing 4-3

[Canary Saint]

 

Letting in 4 goals (again) is disappointing - sigh.........

 

Hope we do better at Newport

[Zagreus]

Couldn't make last night, and didn't see the score until this morning. My first thought was that at least Lemmy and Girlschool didn't show up, but then I noticed that we had been 1-3 up!! What happened? What a rum do!

 

Before the game last night there was 45 points to play for, and there was no way that we were going to get the full 45. I suppose the disappointing aspect from last night is conceding 4 goals. Newport are "do-able" though - come on Saints!

[AFF]

From the early edition of the Herts Advertiser:

 

 

There is a third of the season still to play - 14 games - so this result should not be described as a devastating blow to City's title aspirations, but certainly, to lose by the odd goal in seven, having been 3-1 to the good after 37 minutes is a major hiccough.

 

The Saints retain second place in the League and the home side move into the play-off slots, a major achievement, and credit to former City boss Gary Roberts, in the light of the much publicised financial crisis at Milton Road with their Chairman having sold the ground to an undisclosed buyer for an undisclosed price with an undisclosed timetable to vacate a few weeks ago.

 

Simon Martin had not recovered from an ankle injury incurred during his goal celebrations on Saturday, so Colin Lippiatt selected Paul Hakim to start up front with Lee Clarke. There was a place on the bench for Mark Nwokeji, signed two weeks ago from Walton & Hersham, who enjoyed a full 90 minutes 1st team football for Staines at the week-end on some form of loan arrangement.

 

The home side enjoyed the best possible start with a goal on 4 minutes when Paul Booth successfully challenged for a high ball and threaded an inch-perfect pass through the static defence to Robbie Simpson who sent Paul Bastock the wrong way with a crisp shot from 16 yards.

 

With no sign of the drama to come, City settled and responded with a contender for goal of the season from Ram Marwa just two minutes later. Taking a short pass from Hakim 35 yards from goal, the former Dagenham Midfielder unleashed a fierce dipping shot that gave the stunned 'keeper Alan Calton no chance. Seeming to take control with their usual fluid passing football, the Saints took the lead two minutes later when a low free-kick from Ben Walshe from 25 yards could only be parried by Calton to the feet of that man Marwa who gleefully blasted home from close range.

 

The fans of both sides were barely able to draw breath as the game swung from end to end. Cambridge are a very good side going forward and the pace of Dale Binns wide on the left was causing problems for Chris Seeby in the back four, and for their part, City's attack is always dangerous through their wide players, playing with the confidence of a side having scored 65 goals this term. The Saints extended their lead on 36 minutes when Seeby found the pacy Hakimwith an excellent through ball, which the striker took in stride and hit crisp shot from 18 yards to score his eigth of the season.

 

Cambridge refused to concede and continued to exploit gaps in the Saints defence, and with just seconds remaining of the first period, a spell of concerted pressure saw the Whites reduce the deficit with a goal founded on good fortune. A cross from Craig Dobson on the right eluded Greg Lincoln but was gathered by Binns on the left and his instant return was met by the leg of Lincoln, still prostrate, who hooked the ball behind Bastock and into the net.

 

The Saints needed a steady start to the second half to settle but they faced a spirited home side clearly convinced that the game remained to be won, and they were rewarded within 3 minutes. A poor attempt at a routine clearance from defence was seized upon by the pressing midfield and moved out left to Booth, who sent a quick pass infield to substitute Michael Gash, and his shot was first deflected beyond bastock and then struck the inside of the post before rolling agonisingly into the net to tie the scores.

 

It was Cambridge who now took control of the game and they justly took the lead on 56 minutes. Thiswas the pick of the home side's goals as Gash showed great control to firstly take a cross-field pass from Craig Pope, before firing a fierce shot high to the right of Bastock at full stretch.

 

Both sides pressed without causing either keeper any serious threat and the home side deservedly held all three points at the final whistle.

 

Cambridge City: A. Calton, C. Pope, L. Chaffey, G. Fuff, M. Langston, G. Lincoln, C. Dobson, M. Moseley, R. Simpson (M. Gash 46), P. Booth, D. Binns. Unused subs: R. Lockett, B. Stone, D. Jarrett, D. Naisbett.

 

St Albans City: P. Bastock, C. Seeby, L. Flynn (M. Burgess 83), T. Davis, P. Ada (N. Burton 58), B. Lewis, M. Hann, R. Marwa, P. Hakim, L. Clarke, B. Walshe (M. Nwokeji 88). Unused subs: D. Cracknell, N. Roddis.

 

Referee: M. Murphy (Coventry.

 

Attendance: 472

[Alban]

Very disappointing but even at 3-1 we didn't look in control. Patrick had a nightmare & seemed out of position for 3 of the 4 goals. Once Nick Burton came on in his place after about an hour the threat from Cambridge virtually disappeared.

 

Much as it galls me to say I think Gary Roberts outthought Colin. Cambridge in the second half pushed up more, closed us down quickly, & played route 1 very effectively.

 

As was the case at Bognor there seemed to be a reluctance to change things around when behind & only in the last 5 minutes when Burgess & 'knocky' came on did we threaten in the second half.

 

Whilst not always pretty to watch Cambridge looked very strong, other than their no. 4, Fuff I think, - a real donkey. Except perhaps Farnborough the most effective team we have played.

[AFF]

What a horrible word is 'hiccough'. In the same mould as 'enzyme', 'rhubarb', and 'courgette'.

 

These local hacks. eh?

 

Someone on here the other day suggested that Lee 'Clarkey' Clarke needs to play a different type of game when partnered by Paul 'Hakkers' Hakim. Perhaps Colin missed the suggestion but they will sort it out by Saturday.

 

Let's treat the two imposters the same. That's the imposters of victory and defeat not Clarkey and Hakkers. They're not imposters. You know what I mean.

[cityman]

Have to disagree about the comment about Gary Roberts and CL.

 

We lost this game simply IMO because in the second half in particular we defended poorly and I'm afraid that Patrick is far too `hit and miss' for me with his performances.

 

We have suffered all season long with trying to get the right balance in defence and have unfortuatnely never been able to get the balance right. We have had some really good defenders (of which I think Ben Lewis is one of the best) but we have never had two of them at the club at the same time.

 

 

This will need to be resolved for next season.

[AFF]

Hmmnn. An interesting view from you two.

 

I didn't see this as a tactical battle between the two managers at all. Roberts simply refused to change tactics when 3-1 down and continued to play football. He is a devottee of Route 1 rubbish usually but he has a classy ball player with real pace in Dale Binns and he used him. We had a very bad day at the office in defence and Roberts encouraged his side to run at us and find the weaknesses on the night.

 

Strange goals all round and our strikers didn't really gel last night.

 

Don't forget: I don't know anything about football.

[cityman]

Don't worry...neither do I ;-)

[Rob_the_Saint]

I thought on Saturday Haks and Clarkey didn't really hit it off as a front two, not sure how we accomodate both in the same side though.

 

What's the story with 'Nwokkers'? One minute he's getting 'match practice' at Staines, then signed by them and now he's back with us.

[AFF]

Hi Rob.

 

You must have read the comment concerning Lee 'Clarkey' Clarke and Paul 'Hakkers' Hakim on the Sutton thread, posted by some other eejit!

 

As far as Mark 'Nwokkers' Nwokeji is concerned, I hear that it's something to do with signing forms for different clubs in different Leagues.

 

I gather that he's playing for Grays tomorrow, Southend United on Friday evening, Luton Town on Saturday, Manchester United next monday and Real Madrid on Wednesdaty week. Yeller & blue blood in his veins, however, bless 'im.

[Alban]

We all view things slightly differently although Patrick's performance we do agree on.

Other than at Bognor Nick Burton has been excellent & after last night I feel we should stick with him & Ben Lewis.

I still maintain that it was 'ugly football' that won Cambridge the game. How often did their wide players figure in the second half? It was all straight down the middle.

Just a temporary blip for the Saints i'm sure; I hope!

[cityman]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Nick Burton alongside Ben Lewis on Saturday.

 

DOn't know about everyone else...but despite last nights result it's a great season and Im really enjoying the exciting Football this year :-)