Goals flowed during a thrilling encounter at Clarence Park on Saturday as St Albans City brought to an end a eight match winless run in a style every bit as glorious as the final burst of summer sunshine that engulfed the old Victorian park. Even more wondrous than the golden rays, at least from the Saints perspective, was the sight of Warren McBean and Elliot Benyon striking goals on their debut as York City's first venture to this corner of Hertfordshire ended in a shock yet ultimately justified defeat.
McBean, playing out of position on the left of midfield, can be pleased with contribution while the part played by Benyon was simply oozing excitement; defenders are never happy when confronted by pace - ask the City defence following their clash with Craig Mackail-Smith at Dagenham - and the Minstermen certainly struggled to contain the new kid in town. But to single out those two as the stars of the show would do an injustice to a Saints side that has bounced back with great determination following the first half mauling they received at Dagenham. City refused to capitulate in midweek and carried on the good work of their second half showing in that game to hand Billy McEwan's side a second successive Nationwide Conference defeat.
Yet it could have been so different had York been able to hold onto their first half lead just a few minutes longer than they actually did. At that time they had taken control of the game and looked to build on Craig Farrell's goal. McEwan was so convinced that victory was theirs for the taking that he withdrew Lewis McMahon after just 37 minutes in the hope that Mark Convery would increase the Minstermen's attacking strength, it didn't and neither was McMahon too chuffed at his premature exit.
Colin Lippiatt opted for a 4-4-2 formation with Chris Seeby promoted to captain and placed alongside the excellent Dave Theobald. After an indifferent start Seeby gave his best performance for some time. At left back, Nathan Simpson had a tough task when faced with Clayton Donaldson who towered above him, Simpson stuck to his task well but had several anxious moments during the opening half as the visitors sought to fully exploit Donaldson's aerial advantage. On the opposite flank Damian Batt may not have scored for the first time in three games but he was quite magnificent. Barnet's loss is very much City's gain.
For the opening half hour precious little was seen of the Saints midfield as the ball frequently passed them by. The main exception was Dean Cracknell who not only scored the much-needed first half equaliser but also had what was surely his finest 90 minutes in a City shirt, he hardly lost a challenge and threaded through a succession of dangerous passes. As the game wore on his fellow midfield partners grew in stature and influence, certainly once Alexis Nicolas came to the fore the Saints were altogether a different proposition. Tom Davis had one of his quieter games but that will not worry City unduly.
Up front the tireless Benyon forged a wonderful partnership with Paul Hakim who scored the Saints best goal so far in the Nationwide Conference, it was his seventh of the campaign and his 20th for the club in 58 appearances.
York, who stayed overnight at Hemel Hempstead, came into the game boasting a fine away record of five wins from seven games on their travels, and for 30 minutes looked capable of extending that good run. Inside two minutes a crisp drive from Martyn Woolford was calmly tipped over by Paul Bastock while Batt and Cracknell halted excellent runs into the penalty area by Donaldson and Steve Bowey respectively.
McBean took just nine minutes to make his mark when intercepting McMahon's square ball and running on before passing to Benyon. Disappointingly, Benyon, when a shot looked to be on, chose to return the ball to McBean whom, in addition to now being offside, had his shot blocked by York keeper Tom Evans. The early chances continued to stack up with a stinging low effort from Woolford forcing Bastock's to parry before gathering safely. Just as City were starting to launch more concerted attacks on the visitors goal York made the breakthrough with a bizarre goal.
Donaldson beat Seeby before being fouled by Batt close to the goalline to the right of the home penalty area. As referee Graham Scott paced back the Saints wall Bowey took the free kick. Mr Scott was not impressed and after stopping the play cautioned an irate Bowey. After a further delay Bowey floated the ball into the goalmouth where Donaldson and Bastock met the ball at the same time, which led to it dropping some ten yards from goal for Farrrell to score with a soft yet clever overhead kick. Given St Albans long winless run and not having come from behind this season the storm clouds seemed to be about to obscure the sun. Indeed, in the minutes following the goal York appeared to be taking control of the game, a second goal at this time and City would have been in serious trouble.
As it turned out equity was restored on 31 minutes. Hakim attempted to get wide of Nathan Peat but won a free kick as the grounded York defender handled. As York took a tad too long in arranging their wall Cracknell, not renowned for being a dead-ball specialist, struck the ball through the wall from 20 yards to Evans right and into the York Road net.
How quickly the tide was turning over the remaining hour the Saints roared to a deserved three points. Within a minute of the goal York failed to deal with a City corner and as the ball broke to Seeby the newly installed Saints captain skimmed the top of the crossbar from 15 yards. But just when St Albans were gaining the upper hand back came York to finish the half strongly.
Good tackles by Batt and Seeby cut short promising York attacks before a scorching drive from Peat was turned away by the diving Bastock while both Farrell and Woolford were not too far away from finding the Hatfield Road goal.
The second half kicked off with Hakim booked inside 40 seconds for, supposedly, not retreating ten yards as Peat's free kick thudded into his back. One cannot help but think the linesman who signalled Hakim was not back the full distance really should have accepted the offer of spectacles made to him during the first half by McEwan.
It was to be the only setback City suffered during eight scintillating minutes at the start of the half. On 49 minutes Batt took a throw-in in front of the main stand midway into the York half, as Benyon seemed to be about to lose the ball Batt stormed in, took possession and slid the ball across the face of Evans goal for McBean to, just, open his account with a slight miskick inside the keepers right hand post.
That goal may have been a touch scrappy, the third on 53 minutes was stunning. Cracknell beat Bowey to a bouncing ball and spread a fine pass out to Nicolas, the Westminster-born Cypriot international had to slide and stretch as he arrowed a quite brilliant diagonal ball back across the box for Hakim to unleash a first time effort from 20 yards that smashed against the underside of the bar prior to entering the goal.
City have been criticised for not scoring enough goals this season but 15 sides have scored less than Lippiatt's men and they were hungry for more as two defence splitting balls almost put Benyon in but both times Evans moved swiftly to nullify the danger. Another exceptional pass from Nicolas found Batt in the clear but for the only time in the game the right-back wasted a good position with a far too deep cross. And Nicolas was also involved in a move that should have seen the game made safe. The former Chelsea player passed to McBean who in turn fed Cracknell and from his exquisite through ball Hakim, for once, shot to the left of Evans goal when the 393 York fans behind it feared the worst.
The Minstermen took full advantage of that escape by reducing the deficit within two minutes with a fortuitous second goal. A high ball down the York right by Peat was misjudged by Seeby and Theobald who allowed it fall unchallenged between them, Farrell seized his chance to gain possession and beat Bastock with a shot that deflected off Theobald's outstretched leg and over the frustrated keepers head.
With 24 minutes remaining York were very much back in contention but their hopes waned a minute later as Benyon, for the umpteenth time, ran at the visitors defence. This time he crashed to the ground, possibly a touch easily, as Darren Craddock sought to challenge. Referee Scott, whose performance did not go down well on the visitors terrace but seemed decent to most in the ground, promptly despatched the York defender. There was a three-minute delay from the time of the foul to Nicolas clipping the 20-yard free kick just over Evans goal.
Although one man to the good St Albans suddenly appeared edgy and looked to be in serious trouble when Seeby's pass was cut out and a through ball found Donaldson clear in the penalty area. Batt moved in swiftly to regain possession but in so doing looked to have more than nudged the giant striker in the back, silence from the referee drew more derision from the impressive away support.
As McBean tired, and suffered a touch of cramp, he was withdrawn with Duane Jackman going up front and Hakim pulled back to a deeper position. The move proved to be a success as the Saints offered the greater threat during the closing stages with Nicolas heavily involved. After being robbed he snapped back smartly to win possession and send Hakim away but after cutting into the box the Saints leading marksman could not get sufficient power into his shot to trouble Evans.
Crucial seconds ticked away as City won three successive throws down their right before Benyon won a corner. Nicolas and Hakim attempted to waste time by the corner flag but York left a big enough gap for Nicolas to nip along the goalline before stumbling inside the penalty area, it looked a trip but again the whistle did not sound.
Fortunately it mattered not a jot as the Saints, deep into added time, scored an outstanding fourth goal. Bastock collected the ball and threw it wide to Hakim on the right, with a quick glance he spotted Benyon once more heading towards the York penalty area and with a long pinpoint pass he picked out his new striking partner. Showing ability far above his tender 19 years Benyon took the dropping ball on the outside of his right boot before cutting across the last defender and sliding the clinching goal under the diving Evans.
City's day was almost taken to a higher level as another attack down the left saw Cracknell exchange passes with Jackman before blazing powerfully over the target. |