Any thoughts that St Albans City are preparing to concede the Conference South championship to Weymouth were brushed aside at Clarence Park on Saturday as Colin Lippiatt’s free-scoring Saints ended a resurgent Carshalton Athletic’s six-match unbeaten run and handed the Robins their heaviest defeat for six months.
After an absorbing goalless opening 45 minutes City ran riot at the start of the second period with a three-goal burst inside 11 minutes with the deadly strike duo of Matt Hann and Lee Clarke leading the charge. But those two were far from the stars of the show as Ben Lewis gave another faultless display at the back alongside Gary Elphick who marked the start of his second spell with the Saints in excellent fashion. In midfield Tom Davis, despite picking up his 10th booking of the season and a two-match ban, continued his run of good form.
Carshalton began the afternoon in confident style and forced City to move the ball along quicker than they would have preferred but with the highly impressive Craig Dundas playing as a lone striker the Robins, recent conquerors of Weymouth, found their attacking options wanting.
City had no such limitations going forward and despite failing to breakthrough a solid Robins defence prior to the interval frequently came close to breaching a resolute backline. Twice early on Hann had low balls into the box blocked while on 15 minutes his short free kick led to Davis firing just wide.
Elphick, strong, determined and full of class, presented Dundas with an opening when the ball glanced off his head but sprinted back and slid in with a marvellous tackle to thwart the marauding Robins front man.
Lewis startled Robins keeper Adam Federici with a 35-yard half volley that fizzed just a yard over the top and after Marc Simms had an effort blocked close to the City goal the Saints ended the half in the ascendancy.
Paul Hakim stabbed the ball wide from a Ben Walshe corner and Clarke, freed by Lewis, crossed for Ram Marwa to stretch to head into Federici’s arms while a brilliant exchange between Hakim and Clarke opened up the visitors with Marwa only denied a goal from Clarke’s pass due to the ball striking a divot as he prepared to shoot from ten yards out.
Fears that City were in for a frustrating afternoon evaporated within 50 seconds of the restart as Clarke’s precise diagonal ball sent Hann clear of Marlon Patterson down the City right before the winger notched his 16th goal of the season from the edge of the box with a perfect shot low to Federici’s left.
A thrilling run through the middle by Davis almost brought about a quick-fire second but the reprieve was short for Carshalton for on 50 minutes Hann won a corner off Dundas that Walshe curled in left-footed for Clarke to find the back of the net with a powerful header from 14 yards.
Clark’s 22nd goal of the season was only six minutes away as Chris Seeby passed to Davis who sent Hann away once more and this time his chip to the far post was headed home with ease as Clarke became the joint highest scorer in the Conference South.
For a while City appeared keen to further boost their already impressive goal difference but other than Hann scuffing a shot wide from a Lee Flynn cross and then shooting straight at Federici from a pass by Davis the finishing did not quite match some enterprising approach work.
For their part Carshalton, who look capable of putting together the kind of run that got City out of trouble last season, went close with Matt York shooting over and substitute Mark Marshall wastefully aiming straight at Paul Bastock after being teed up by Tony Quinton. |