Match Reports on the web

[Electric ~soul~]

Why don't they use that little wooden portable bar thing as a bottle bar, down the other end??

 

Get a fridge, stick a few bottles of beer and alcopops in, and take the pressure off the main bar a bit.

 

It's not rocket science, and something a lot of pubs/clubs are doing now.

[Electric ~soul~]

Quote:

Rob_the_Saint said:
As for the match, from what I saw Theobald had a decent game, lewis was superb, Seeby was a bit erratic, Marcelle Nugent looked useful, Hakim and Sozzo were lively up front, Hanny as fast and tricky as ever. Davis also had a good game but Marwa was a bit quiet.

Rob - you should apply for a job at the local newspaper.

If you're this capable of dressing up a 0-6 defeat to make it sound like we were the better team, I reckon you could add 250 people to the gate every week, thus making the club an extra £50k a year etc. etc.

[AFF]

£70/80,000 is more like it, Zealster. Stand by for the Clubman of the Year award. If not, a positive mention in the match-day programme.

 

These local hacks. What do they know? Negative mischief-makers, the lot of 'em. I bet that chap from the Observer will say that the Hatters managed to win 6-0.

[Rob_the_Saint]

The Luton view...

 

Richard Langley took just 70 seconds to announce his arrival at Luton Town with a superb curling free-kick as Hatters hit St Albans for six in their second pre-season friendly.Langley, who signed on a free transfer from QPR on Tuesday, netted from 20-yards after coming on as a half-time substitute at Clarence Park.Steve Howard had earlier given Town a 1-0 interval lead before Langley, Rowan Vine, Peter Holmes, an own goal from former Luton scholar Nick Mountford and a Warren Feeney effort at the death gave Hatters the convincing scoreline.But the real drama of the night came before the match kicked-off as referee Darren Deadman refused to officiate the game.He stated that under official rules both sides could not make more than six substitutions during proceedings.The teams refused to obey the order and Deadman walked away leaving the match in doubt.Only the intervention of Hatters programme and website editor Steven Dove - a fully qualified referee - saved the day.Dove stepped down from the press box, got changed and took control of the game with the help of Luton youth team players George Bevan and Ryan Charles, who ran the lines.The game eventually began after a 15 minute delay and the only goal separating the teams at half-time was Howard's curling effort from the edge of the penalty area, although Calvin Andrew did have an effort ruled out for offside as he slotted home Stephen O'Leary's cross after half-an-hour.O'Leary and Howard were also denied by a smart double save from the host's reserve goalkeeper Ricky Perks in the 42nd minute.Newly promoted Conference outfit St Albans had their moments and had a penalty appeal turned down when Russell Perrett upended Josh Sozzo in the box a minute before the break.

 

Town made nine changes at the interval and took just over a minute to add to the score-line when Langley wriggled away from two markers to win a free-kick just outside the area before picking himself up to curl home beautifully right-footed.Vine slipped past Saints player-coach Nick Roddis and fired home a swerving 20-yard effort in the 64th minute before Holmes repeated the effort from a near identical position 10 minutes later.Luton looked set to repeat their 4-0 score from Monday night's game at Hitchin until the final two minutes when David Bell set up two more.The former Rushden man firstly cut back from the right for Kevin Foley to rifle a 15-yard effort that found its way in off former Town youth player Mountford and Bell then crossed for Feeney to glance home a near post header.The game also saw Luton give a run out to Hatters legend Ricky Hill's son Shane, who played the last 15 minutes on the left wing.

 

St Albans: Ricky Perks, Chris Seeby (Nick Mountford 46), Ben Lewis (Ben Martin 46), Dave Theobald (Gary Elphick 46), Marcelle Nugent (Ryan Thackerly 46), Matt Hann (Kalum Mooniaruck 46), Tom Davis (Nick Roddis 46), Ram Marwa (Andy Ross 46), Michael Johnson, Josh Sozzo (Simon Martin 46), Paul Hakim (Dean Cracknell 46).

 

Luton Town: Dean Brill (Zac Barrett 66), Sam Stockley (Kevin Foley 46), Keith Keane (Michael Leary 46), Russ Perrett (Markus Heikkinen 46), Lewis Emanuel (Shane Hill 75), Stephen O'Leary (David Bell 46), Kevin Nicholls (Steve Robinson 46), Ahmet Brkovic (Richard Langley 46), Dean Morgan (Peter Holmes 46), Calvin Andrew (Rowan Vine 46), Steve Howard (Warren Feeney 46).Referee: Steven Dove.

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Quote:

Electric ~soul~ said:
Why don't they use that little wooden portable bar thing as a bottle bar, down the other end??

Get a fridge, stick a few bottles of beer and alcopops in, and take the pressure off the main bar a bit.

It's not rocket science, and something a lot of pubs/clubs are doing now.

When I read the original bit I thought exactly the same .... great minds and all that!
But we all know great minds don't run this place, I should imagine it'll be used for selling raffle tickets from <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[MiddxSaint]

St Albans City v Barnet

 

http://www.barnettimes.co.uk/sport/local...ive_display.php

[MiddxSaint]

Hitchin Town v St Albans City

 

http://www.thecomet.net/content/comet/sp...3A14%3A39%3A267

[AFF]

I think that "insipid" is a little strong for the performance against Barnet, personally.

 

And no "pulsating", eh? Hmmph. Local hacks. What do they know?

[AFF]

That chap from the Herts Advertiser struck the right note for me. He, too, couldn't get a "pulsating" in there:

 

 

"Barnet from the Football League, Division 2, highlighted the difference in strength, pace, fitness and speed of thought that comes with full-time football in comparison with the part-time status of the newcomers to the Nationwide Conference, and gave City a glimpse of the scale of Colin Lippiatt's task in the months to come.

 

The visitors from Underhill took command from the start, with a game based upon closing down the home side in their own half of the pitch, denying any opportunity to make good use of the passing game that saw promotion from the Nationwide South in May. The City defence rose to the task and withstood the early pressure with Dave Theobald and Ben Lewis in particular producing a solid rearguard display.

 

Laim Hatch, wide on the Bees' left looked the danger man in attack and he came close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes, with a fierce burst of pace, a quick check to turn, and a shot from 18 yards which just curled around the outside of the far post.

 

The Saints' best effort of the first half came just before the half hour when Lee Flynn, Ram Marwa and Matt Hann combined to work a fine move just outside the area to create space for Marwa to fire just wide of the target.

 

Barnet maintained their pace throughout and were denied minutes later when, a short corner found the unmarked Ian Hendon and his fierce shot through a crowded area was seen late by Paul Bastock, returning to City colours after a ligament operation in the Summer, who dived smartly to his right to deflect the ball wide and high with his strong right hand.

 

The opening score came minutes later when a City attack was broken down by a fierce but fair challenge on Simon Martin and the vistors broke at pace with Richard Graham sending a finely-judged pass into the path of Hatch who coolly chipped the advancing dive of Bastock for a very well-taken goal.

 

Bastock was again required to show his pedigree on 43 minutes to deny Nicky Bailey, again a well-struck shot from the edge of the area but the City keeper will not relish the second Barnet goal moments before the break when he allowed a well-struck volley from Hatch to squirm under his body.

 

It was a scrappy start to the second period, but the visitors scored their third on 58 minutes when a patient build-up advancing through the City half, resulted in Dean Sinclair crossing a short ball to the impressive Richard Graham who shot firmly past the despairing dive of Bastock from close range.

 

The Saints enjoyed their best spell of the game around the 70 minute mark. The home side's best chance fell to Simon Martin after Matt Hann hit an inch-perfect cross to the striker in space but a spilt-second's delay allowed Bee's keeper Lee Harrison to block the shot and gather the ball at the second attempt. Having been a virtual spectator, Harrison was sharp to dive to push a well-struck Lee Flynn free-kick around his right-hand post, and moments later, he tipped a goal-bound header from Dave Theobald over his bar to safety.

 

In the closing minutes, each side squandered opportunities to add to the score-line. Ram Marwa tamely chipped a shot into the arms of Harrison after space was created by the lively Lee Clarke, and seconds from time, Barnet's star striker Guiliamo Grazioli, well-policed by the City centre-backs for the preceding 90 minutes, found space to send a glancing header of a Graham cross well wide of Bastock's left-hand post."

[MiddxSaint]

http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ReservesReport/0,,10418~878063,00.html

 

The Blades extended their unbeaten pre-season run to seven matches against the newly-promoted Nationwide Conference side at Clarence Park.

United included a number of notable names who are not part of the pre-season trip to Holland, including Alan Wright, Nick Montgomery and Neil Shipperley.

Wright and Shipperley both played 76 minutes in a bid to get some action under their belt, before being replaced by Martin Donnelly and Ryan Cresswell respectively.

United began brightly with Nicky Law shooting just over after 12 minutes following good work by Naughton, Oliver and Montgomery.

On 15 minutes, former Boston United goalkeeper Paul Bastock was called into action when he kept out James Ashmore's fierce drive. Then, at the other end, United's Jamie Annerson had to be on his guard to make a fine save.

United had a lucky escape after 40 minutes when McFadzean tried to clear and sliced the ball onto Annerson's post, but the goalkeeper bravely smothered the ball ahead of the inrushing attackers.

The Blades felt aggrieved to have a penalty appeal turned down after the break when substitute Colin Marrison was clattered to the deck by Bastock, but the referee waved play on.

On 62 minutes, Shipperley worked well down the left, crossed for Montgomery but the midfield man screwed his effort wide of the target.

St Albans had a good chance to break the deadlock in the 80th minute when Ben Martin's header was well saved by Annerson. United themselves could have won it at the death when a good ball from Naughton found Cresswell but his header sailed inches past the post.

Blades Res: Annerson, Starosta (Roma 72), Wright (Donnelly 76), Ashmore (C. Robertson 60), McFadzean, Naughton, Montgomery, Law (K. Quinn 60), Shipperley (Cresswell 76), Oliver (Marrison 45), Kerry (Travis 60). Unused: J. Robertson.

[MiddxSaint]

http://www.harriers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/PreMatch/0,,10438,00.html

 

Harriers vs St Albans - Match Preview

 

Teenagers Dane Harper and Robert Norris, previously with Boston United, have linked up the Clarence Park outfit ahead of tomorrow's huge opening Conference game of the season.

There's further good news for the visitors on the injury front with Lippiatt welcoming back Matty Hann to training prior to the game, as well as the instantly recognisable Paul Bastock, with the goalkeeping legend fit after summer surgery.

They will however definitely make the trip without Ben Lewis, who's recovering from a collarbone injury.

Ian Foster's treatment room at Aggborough, however, has been slightly less busy with Manager Mark Yates having a full complement of players to choose from - not least of all his two latest signings, Dwane Lee and Gavin Cowan.

Yates had adopted an optimistic yet cautious approach to this opening game for the entire summer, and unsurprisingly failed to change his tune in the big build up.

He said this week: "I've seen them play one pre-season game, I've had them watched and I've spoken to a lot of people who watched them last season.

I said it a lot last season and I'll say it a lot again, there's no easy games.

They're going to come here, see the surroundings at Aggborough, see the pitch and really fancy it. We've got to make sure we're ready for them.

New goalkeepers Scott Bevan and Steve Taylor, both of whom have impressed during pre-season, have battled it out to see who will start between the sticks tomorrow, and Yates admitted that informing the players of who will start and who will not was one of the hardest things he'd had to do.

It was very hard to do, to go in the dressing room and look some of the lads in the face and break the news to them that they wouldn't be starting after five weeks' solid hard work, the Aggborough boss said at last night's Fans' Forum.

I've picked what I think is our best eleven for tomorrow's game - it's up to the lads that aren't starting to keep themselves in my plans and continue to work hard, which I know they will.

[YELLOW]

Quote:

MiddxSaint said:

and Gavin Cowan.

Decent defender with a great deal of potential and did well in his time at Canvey. Him and Dave Theobald will know each other well.

[MiddxSaint]

http://www.harriers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10438~35770,00.html

 

ST. ALBANS City inflicted the first opening-day defeat in several years on Kidderminster Harriers today with Mark Yates' men going down to a disappointing 3-1 reverse.

In truth the visitors looked like the brighter side from start to finish and Paul Hakim, David Theobald and Lee Clarke all scored goals that gave Colin Lippiatt's men the victory.

Jeff Kenna gave the score line some slight credibility with a superb free kick deep in injury time but the Conference new boys will rightfully leave with all the plaudits.

In the first half in particular, the Saints were dominant and when Adam Wilde slid a perfect ball through the defence to Hakim who finished smartly with nine minutes gone, the guests had already looked dangerous.

The prolific Clarke could have doubled his side's advantage ten minutes later after he found himself on the ball after it came lose in the area - Scott Bevan got down low to palm his shot away.

With 21 on the clock that lead was indeed doubled when the experienced Theobald was able to get a glancing header onto the end of Matt Hann's corner.

It took until nearer the half time whistle for the home side to really threaten and new signing Dwane Lee was the man at the front of it when he got in a bullet header from Jamie McClen's corner, though he couldn't mange to trouble Paul Bastock in goal.

Michael Blackwood missed with a similarly powerful header just a moment later but the afternoon turned from awful to dire when St. Albans were awarded a penalty following a foul on Hakim by Stuart Whitehead.

Clarke stepped up and smashed the resultant spot-kick into the top corner of the net.

Almost predictably, as St. Albans eased off the gas after the break it was virtually all Harriers - and Andy White will be unsure of how he failed to score after Kenna's deep cross thumped off his knee and went over.

Russ Penn fired a long-range drive that went just over on 64 minutes - but things could've been made a little easier for the home side ten minutes later when Gary Elphick was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, resulting in a penalty for Harriers and a red card for Elphick.

Sturridge stepped up and saw his penalty kick neatly saved low-down by Bastock as it became obvious it wasn't to be a Harriers' day.

Substitute Simon Martin wasted an unbelievable chance to heap further misery on the reds with just a few minutes remaining - a shot from distance clipped the post and came out to him - he somehow poked it wide from close-range.

Deep in injury time though the home fans were given something to cheer about - Kenna swept home a superb direct free-kick that gave Bastock no chance.

Harriers: Bevan, Kenna, Creighton, Whitehead, Sturridge, White (Reynolds 67), McClen (Smikle 45), Blackwood, Penn, Cowan, Lee (Russell 67.)

St. Albans: Bastock, Seeby, Flynn, Davis, Elphick, Theobald, Hann (Norris 90), Marwa, Hakim (S. Martin 67), Clarke, Wilde (B. Martin 76.)

Attendance: 1,806 (99 away)

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwicks)

 

Match Report sponsored by Simplybidding http://www.simplybidding.com/

[TomDavisPonyTail]

99 away??? what??!?! there were about 200 us!!

[Electric ~soul~]

I would say about 120-150, though there's no reason to doubt there figure as we all came in through a different gate, surely?

[TomDavisPonyTail]

The steward in front of us said something like 180-odd were in the stand, add on the directors and the City fans sitting down.

 

Might be wrong though.

[TomDavisPonyTail]

By the stand, i mean the terrace.....naturally.

[Electric ~soul~]

Yeah, fair enough - I admit 99 sounds low.

 

Not sure how KHFC would benefit from doctoring the figures, though.

 

Anyway - I'm well glad I was there. Don't think I've ever seen St Albans play as well as they did first half, though I hope we're not lulled into a false sense of security.

 

You could see how tired our players were in the last 25 minutes, and there will be a lot better teams than Kiddie in this league.

 

Also felt we rode our luck just a little in the second half. If it wasn't for Bastock (and the toe-poke off the line)...

 

Not that I wish to rain on any parade, of course - I thought the team were superb.

[TomDavisPonyTail]

I feel like saying...it was a perfect counter-attacking performance from us...but it wasn't, we controlled the game, particularly the first half.

 

Even the second half, many of their chances were on the break. Agree that we looked tired, bare in mind though that we had 10 men for the last 15-20 minutes, it was understandable along with the fact that we are 'part time and we're 3-0 up'!!

 

Tuesday will provide a bigger test for us. But we are a young team that plays well with confidence, so with this result and performance I have no doubt that we will give Cambridge a good run for their money.

 

Also, can anyone confirm that we beat a Premiership Winner with Blackburn, in Jeff Kenna today???

[Electric ~soul~]

Zag's the man to confirm that one!