The big improvement which has been effected in the Citizens team work by the conversion of Saunders and Meadows into wing half-backs and the inclusion of Sperrin and Richards at inside-forward, was demonstrated to the full in the replayed Herts Senior Cup semi-final at Clarence Park on Saturday, when St Albans City recorded their first win over Barnet in a county competition game since April 1938 and qualified to meet Hitchin Town in the final which. It is understood, to be played at Underhill on May 5th.
In addition there was on Saturday a marked stiffening in the Citizens defence, where the marking and covering was so co-ordinated that the Barnet forwards, who indulged in some clever combination in midfield, were seldom permitted to become really dangerous at close quarters. St Albans, at times, had complete command and established a superiority which was not exaggerated by the score, indeed had St Albans not lapsed into short passing for a period in the second half the margin of their victory might well have been bigger.
The big factors in the Citizens’ success were the quick tackling of Saunders and Meadows, coupled by the fact that on this occasion, Wilkinson subdued Phipps, the good ball distribution carried out by the wing half-backs and the excellent work of Sperrin and Richards. The inside forwards toiled unceasingly and provided the wingers with many chances to shine. Bishop. facing Blackburn who was deputising for the injured Livermore at left back for Barnet, invariably placed to ball to advantage, but Sayers found Lipington, who was the best back on view, difficult to pass. Hussey often had Hawkins guessing and his goal, which brought his total to eight in five games, gives him the distinction of heading, with Fuller, the list of first team goalscorers for the season.
The Clarence Park pitch, waterlogged in places, has seldom been as heavy, but nevertheless the game was fought at a great pace. Whether Kelleher, the Barnet skipper, on winning the toss made a mistake in setting St Albans to kick off down the slope may be a matter of opinion but the Citizens made the most of that advantage and by the interval had the game almost in the bag, with a three-goal lead. That Barnet would find difficulty in coping with long passing by players who were moving into the open spaces quickly, was demonstrated in the second minute when Sperrin put Bishop away and the outside right’s low centre left Richards with a simple chance at close range. But the inside-let instead of tapping the ball into the net got his toe under it and lifted it over the crossbar,
While the liveliness of Sperrin and Richards prevented Garrans and Brunt co-operating with their attacks as much as usual, the Barnet forward line with Kelleher and Ridley demonstrating their best tricks, combined with understanding but without being able to disturb the solidarity of the Citizens’ defence. In which on this occasion Rawlings, who played extremely well, mastered Haskow and Collings prevented Hawkes, very speedy for a veteran, becoming a menace.
When St Albans forwards kept the ball on the move they made big gaps in the Barnet rearguard. It was in a raid on the right the St Albans gained the lead after thirty minutes. Sperrin taking pass from Bishop, rounded Blackburn and had a clear course for goal when Gerrans, crossing from the opposite flank, made a desperate effort to prevent Sperrin shooting but the ball went at great pace off GERRANS boot into the corner of the net with Stevens, the Barnet goalkeeper, helpless.
Before Barnet had time to recover from that shock St Albans had played themselves in a strong position with two more goals. In the thirty fifth minute RICHARDS, running onto a return pass by Sayers, tricked Lipington and Hawkins before beating Stevens with a fast and low cross shot. That was Richards’ first goal for the Citizens senior team and it was a result of a fine solo effort.
In the next minute St Albans went further ahead. Bishop forced a corner kick off Blackburn and placed it well. The ball was partially cleared but Meadows returned it for Sayers to get in a hard low shot which Stevens could only beat down and HUSSEY was on the spot to send the ball into the net. It was by a remarkable leap across his goal that Stevens managed to hook out a shot from Sperrin which looked a certainty for the top corner of the Barnet net.
Although Barnet tried hard to pull the game around in the second half when they had the advantage of the slope St Albans never relaxed their grip. Trueman, whose handling of the greasy ball was first-class, was only twice seriously tested after the interval. Once where he gathered a stinging drive from Ridley and once late in the game when he saved at full length from Haskow.
St Albans best chance after the interval were created when they indulged in long passing. One movement put Bishop clean through and he lifted the ball over Stevens head and the crossbar. Hussey twice eluded Hawkins to fire in hard and low shot which Stevens reached.. The Citizens increased their lead when Bishop gained a corner kick which was placed perfectly for RICHARDS to convert with a fine header.
Bishop might have added to the total when Sperrin’s pass left huim with only Stevens to beat but the Barnet goalkeeper, always quick into the action, darted out to pick the ball off the wingers toes. Phipps went the nearest to scoring for Barnet during the last five minutes. He narrowly missed with a header from Haskow’s centre and in a goalmouth tussle shot past Trueman but Meadows cleared off of the line.
FULL TIME St Albans City 4 Barnet 0 |