Winger Luke Robins used his head to help City to a more than comfortable win over St Albans at Milton Road last night, nodding home twice to add to strikes from Liam Nicell and Craig Hammond.
Things could have been a whole lot worse for The Saints had City converted their chances. The Lilywhites were guilty of missing some wonderful openings, but once Nicell had put them ahead in the 18th minute there only looked one winner.
Prior to the opening goal, the game had been very even with both sides showing good energy and endeavour. Neil Midgley who was the only change to Saturday’s line-up, replacing Dubi Ogbonna, showed great expeience to hold up the ball and bring others into the game.
Dave Theobald came close to edging City in front when he got on the end of Joey Abb’s teasing cross, but could only place his header into the hands of Kyle Merson in the visitor’s goal.
St Albans, who were relegated from the Blue Square South last season have had to rebuild their side and they have brought in some technically talented players and this was on show in the early exchanges as they swept forward, but were unable to make much ipression on City’s defence.
When City eventually broke the deadlock, it didn’t come from any of the usual suspects. Liam Nicell managed only one goal last season, and this goal was just as spectacular as that effort as his angled shot cum cross looped beyond the despairing dive of Merson.
City upped a gear and could have exteded their lead, but Hammond’s looping shot dropped just wide and soon after, Robins headed too close to Merson as he got on the end of Abb’s searching cross. Robins made a better job of it soon after though as an action replay ended with his header nestling in the back of the net to give City a deserved two goal lead.
Five minutes on and the game was as good as over. Robins struck again from an almost identical position. Merson got plenty of the ball, but could not prevent it squirming from his grasp and trickling over the line.
 |
|
Hammond loops a shot goalwards
|
Nicell showed that his shooting of the first half was no fluke as he almost found the net soon after the restart. Picking up a loose ball, he advanced and thumped an unstoppable drive beyond Merson. Unfortunately it struck the upright and bounced to safety.
Despite having a mountain to climb, St Albans never gave up and had plenty of the ball and produced some promising build-up play, however there was simply no end product as City’s defence gave little away.
City were happy to play on the counter and should have easily doubled their eventual winning margin. Hammond spurned an open goal when a misplaced clearance fell to him with the goal gaping. Substitute Tony Burke was also guilty when he blasted over after Merson had parried Ogbonna’s drive straight to him. Hammond then looped a free header over the bar. The City hotshot made ammends however with five minutes left, side-footing home after Matt Pooley had failed to cut out Burkes through-ball.
Further chances fell to Hammond in the final minutes. Twice he shot narrowly wide after getting in behind The Saints backline and then saw Merson save his first time shot after Ogbonna picked him out with a pinpoint cross.
In the end it didn’t matter and City claimed another three points and second spot in the early season table.
