Tom Beech
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St Albans City slumped back into the Nationwide Conference South bottom three on Saturday when Jason Bowen, the former Wales international, struck with a dramatic 93rd minute headed winner that gave the Welsh club their first home league win for almost two months and, more crucially, completed a vital double for Newport County over the Saints.
It was devastating blow for St Albans who were down to ten men for the final twenty minutes following the dismissal of midfielder Nick Roddis for two cautionable offences. Despite their numerical disadvantage it was the Saints, making their first ever visit to the principality, who had looked the most likely winners during the latter stages but ultimately their lack of goals proved decisive.
That City once again failed to score owed as much to a midfield that performed below par rather than the forward line not doing its job properly but that said the Saints do have far too much reliance on Lee Clarke finding the target every game when there are others in the side who are not pulling their weight in front of goal.
The same cannot be said of a defence that was excellent with the exceptional Gary Elphick being the pick of the bunch. Also included in the back four were Dean Hooper, after completing his fifth suspension of the season, and Chris Seeby whose inclusion at left-back, after playing in midfield during the week, meant a seat on the bench for Scott Cousins.
On a fine completely flat surface the Saints started well and a fourth consecutive away win appeared to be within their grasp as Matt Hann ran the early stages in style down the City right. After just five minutes it took an acrobatic goalline clearance by County full back Scott Morgan to keep out an inswinging Hann corner and shortly after Clarke headed wide from a Hann cross after the midfielder had stormed past three County players.
City’s early promise was maintained with a spell of pressure ending with Ram Marwa shooting over while County keeper Andrew Delve also saved an Elphick header following a Hann corner.
But to suggest that St Albans were having matters all their own way would be a wild exaggeration and Newport looked certain to score on 21 minutes when Paul Bastock parried Jamie Moralee’s drive, Ben Martin’s poor clearance handed the ball straight back to Moralee and this time Bastock beat out the fierce drive low to his right with a stunning save; Hooper completed the clearance.
Midway through the half Bowen played a free kick inside to Darren Jones who tried his luck from 30 yards with a blistering drive that was set to crash into the roof of the net before Bastock stuck out his right arm to almost nonchalantly palm the ball over; it was a truly wonderful save made to look simple.
City ended the half positively with only the outstretched legs of Delve denying Clarke his 21st goal of the season after latching onto Andrew Thomas’s soft headed back pass while a swift break involving Hooper and Marwa ended with Walshe’s cross just eluding Hann in front of goal.
The half though, ended in controversy as Roddis and Dale Evans tangled on the ground following a legitimate clash between the pair. Roddis’s boot clearly caught the Newport defender on the head but the incident was not spotted by the match officials and Roddis later claimed it was accidental as the two players fell to the ground.
Clear chances were harder to come by during the second half and although still played at a high tempo the game did not flow as well as it did during the opening 45 minutes. Tom Beech, a striker desperately in need of a goal, glanced a header wide after being set up by Clarke and then pounced on an error by Gethyn Jones again only to shoot wide.
Having been booked just four minutes after the restart for a foul on Nathan Davies, Roddis was despatched on 72 minutes when referee Ian Scarr decided that he had caught Bowen late. His dismissal completed a miserable day for the midfielder who had endured a frustrating afternoon during which he saw little of the ball.
Strangely a half that had been stalemate up until now suddenly came alive and it was the ten-man Saints who were calling the tune. A sustained period of pressure saw City go close three times, the best chance fell to Clarke who superbly turned away from his defender following a long kick by Bastock, but from just inside the penalty area Clarke saw his cleanly struck shot turned around at the foot of the post by Delve who, like his opposite number, gave an impressive display.
Clarke also went close with a cross from the City left that clipped a defenders boot and landed on the roof of the net with Delve struggling to pick up the flight of the ball. From the corner, swung in towards the near post by Hann, Bowen just managed to save a goal by heading out for another corner.
With the clock edging towards four minutes of added time and the home fans contemplating the first goalless match at the Newport Stadium this season the Welsh side conjured up a decisive blow when Evans laid the ball off to Tom Hooper who, just six minutes after replacing Sam O’Sullivan, crossed for Bowen to score with a spectacular diving header wide of Bastock’s right hand.
Report by Dave Tavener |