http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/localsport/8951198.Careless_Saints_punished_by_sharp_Darts/The decision by the FA on Friday to uphold the punishment meted out to St Albans City in February could have been expected to kick the final ounce of fight out of Steve Castle’s Saints but instead City fought gamely on Saturday before sliding to an unfortunate 2-1 Conference South defeat to a disappointing Dartford at Clarence Park.
The defeat was unfortunate in that both of the Darts goals were handed to Tony Burman’s side on a plate due to horrendous howlers and City compounded errors at one end of the pitch by missing a penalty at a time when the visitors were visibly wilting.
These incidents aside, this was a most commendable performance given under the watchful eyes of former England striker Teddy Sheringham who delighted players of the St Albans City Youth Under-10s by agreeing to pose with them for photographs during the half time interval.
City showed three changes from the side beaten in midweek by Dorchester Town, two players were dropped while James Fisher quit the club having become disillusioned with life at Clarence Park.
Striker Dom Petrucci was relegated to the substitutes bench but midfield terrier Rob Magwood was not even named in the squad.
Oaklands student Michael Lewis came in at right back for his First team debut and Tony Battersby was recalled to the attack.
Dartford dominated the opening 45 minutes and City’s 17-year-old keeper Conor Gough was soon called upon to save from Tom Bonner while Charlie Sheringham fired wide with an early effort.
The visitors took the lead on 23 minutes with the most comical goal seen at the Park for a many a long day.
Darts keeper Andrew Young launched a long free kick from ten yards outside his penalty area, Lee Burns flicked the ball on midway inside the City half. What should have been a routine catch for Gough turned into a nightmare.
With Sheringham running across his line of vision the young keeper clearly took his eye off the ball and was stranded as the ball bounced over his 6’5” frame and into the York Road goal for Burns first goal of the season.
A minute later Inih Effiong responded by making light of three challenges but his low shot failed to trouble Young.
The pressure was maintained with Effiong collecting a pass from Glodi Kweme and dinking a cross to the back post that Young punched only as far as Jonathan O’Donnell but the keeper recovered well to block O’Donnell’s flying left-footed drive.
Adam Everitt was next to go close with the City captain firing a yard wide after a run by Battersby had been blocked and towards the end of the half Young was forced to save an Everitt header.
Five minutes from the break Dartford almost scored a second freak goal when Ryan Frater’s clearance from inside the six yard box thudded into the chest of Danny Harris and ricocheted just wide of the goal.
A minute later Dartford broke with three players beating City’s attempted offside trap. Burns carefully flighted the ball over Gough but Lewis got back to cap a good debut with a goalline clearance.
O’Donnell was substituted for the fifth successive time at the end of his loan spell from Luton Town at half time with Aidy Chaves taking his place on the left of the midfield. And as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks Chaves caught the eye with darting runs at the opposition defence.
Soon after the restart City were thankful to Peter Smith for another goalline clearance after Paul Goodacre met a Lee Noble corner with a powerful downward header.
Chaves had a penalty appeal for handball rejected following a cross but he quickly regained possession and forced Young into an awkward save close to his near, right-hand, post.
City drew level on 55 minutes with an exquisite finish by Battersby.
Frater lifted the ball over the Darts backline and Battersby, on the edge of the penalty area, struck a right-footed shot to Young’s right with some power to claim his third goal in eight games for the Saints.
Four minutes later Dartford defender Bonner met a deep Ryan Hayes corner at the back post and from point blank range sent a header into Gough’s face. As the keeper fell to the ground the ball deflected out for a corner.
Gough continued after treatment but is said to have had no recollection of the final half hour of the game.
After surviving a spell of Darts pressure City hit back most impressively. Battersby went close with two efforts and Mark Peters headed just wide.
City’s growing dominance should have resulted in a goal on 69 minutes when Kweme burst between Bonner and James White only to be sent tumbling by Goodacre.
Battersby struck the resulting penalty cleanly enough but his rising shot crashed against the crossbar and after flying high above the goal bounced out for a goal kick.
Gough’s head was clear enough to make a fine save at his near post from Hayes’s dangerous corner as Dartford enjoyed a respite from City’s growing dominance.
Sean Shields, on for Kweme, caused Dartford countless problems down the City right and from one of his crosses the unmarked Ollie Kelly attempted an overhead kick that he missed and Billy Burgess headed out for a corner.
Peters, shortly after a having header saved by Young, latched onto Frater’s cutback from the goalline and had a clever back-heel blocked by the busy Darts defence.
But a clear chance went begging when Chaves played the ball wide to Shields and from his good cross Petrucci, on for the injured Effiong, glanced a header weakly wide.
City had a let off on 84 minutes when Jack Pallen fired a diagonal effort across the home goal that just eluded the stretching Sheringham.
But there was no escape a minute later when Frater’s ill-judged square pass to Lewis allowed Pallen to seize possession and race clear to the edge of the penalty area where he beat Gough with a well placed left-footed shot that secured the points for the Darts.
James Fisher, who joined City from Northwood in February 2008, scored five times in 135 games for the club. His departure, hot on the heels of those of Ben Martin and Paul Bastock, leaves Ryan Frater as the only member of the current squad to have played over 100 games for the club.
St Albans City: C.Gough, M.Lewis, P.Smith, G.Kweme (Se Shields), A.Everitt, R.Frater, M.Peters, O.Kelly, T.Battersby, I.Effiong (D.Petrucci 68), J.O’Donnell (A.Chaves 46), subs; L.Flavin, N.Chrysanthou.
Dartford: A.Young, B.Burgess, T.Bonner, J.Bruce (J.Pallen 71), P.Goodacre, T.Champion, L.Noble, J.White (E.Bradbrook 71), C.Sheringham, L.Burns, D.Harris (R.Hayes 46), subs; M.Jones.
Goals: 23 0-1 Burns, 55 1-1 Battersby, 85 1-2 Pallen.
Referee: Ian Rathbone (Northampton).
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Topic: St Albans v Dartford 2nd April (Read 7687 times)