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15.11.2008 at 15:00 Clarence Park Attendance : 587
St Albans City
1 - 1
Hayes & Yeading United
Referee : Chris Miller (Kettering) Blue Square South match

Goalscorers
Paul Hakim (77)
Will Hendry (85)
Opening squads
Paul Bastock
Scott Cousins
Luke Thurlbourne
Ben Martin
Ryan Frater
Gary Cohen
James Quilter
Paul Hakim
Sam Hurrell
Jonathan Hunt
James Fisher
Delroy Preddie
Danny-Allen Page
Ronnie Bull
Tom Cadmore ©
Matt Ruby
Ram Marwa
Steve Perkins
James Mulley
Scott Fitzgerald
Will Hendry
Esmond James
Substitutes
Jake Palmer
Alex Bailey
Hassan Sulaiman
Adam Everitt
Bradley Gray
Steven Gregory
Keiran Knight
Toby Little
Peter Collins
Aaron Howe
Substitutions
Hassan Sulaiman -> Jonathan Hunt (54)
Adam Everitt -> Sam Hurrell (69)
Bradley Gray -> Gary Cohen (71)
Toby Little -> Esmond James (67)
Keiran Knight -> Steve Perkins (80)
Yellow cards
Gary Cohen (71)
Will Hendry (43)
Scott Fitzgerald (55)
Ram Marwa (57)
Matt Ruby (72)
Red cards
None. None
Match report
By Dave Tavener

St Albans City stood a tantalising five minutes away from rising to second place in the Conference South table on Saturday when Hayes & Yeading United snatched a dramatic late equaliser courtesy of a controversial free kick that also brought to an end the Saints magnificent seven-match winning streak.

A 1-1 draw with the side that now occupies the position behind leaders Chelmsford City is far from a bad result for the Saints and overall a share of the spoils was a just outcome although City really did have the chances to maintain their winning run.
United, who themselves won eight consecutive games earlier in the season, were without their suspended leading scorer Josh Scott while City were again minus Lee Clarke, Simon Martin and Chris Seeby but were able to give Hassan Sulaiman a run out for the first time in almost two months.
Playing down the slope towards the Hatfield Road goal the visitors were highly impressive early on as they dominated possession and pushed the ball around with confidence. But United fell down where so many sides have already fallen this season in trying to break down the City defence.

Full backs Scott Cousins and James Fisher were kept busy in denying United service from the flanks but it was in the middle of the defence in Ryan Frater and the Saints birthday boy, Ben Martin, that St Albans' most impressive performers were found.
The recent return of Frater after injury has added to the physical presence of the Saints backline while it is impossible to recall when Martin, even prior to his three years trouble by serious injury, has played to such a consistently high and influential standard.

But for all of their early swagger the best the Missioners could muster during the opening exchanges was a wild shot way over the top by Steve Perkins. City's first attack of note saw Jonathan Hunt have a free kick charged down by an outstretched arm with his follow up effort curling at speed just beyond the far post.

Such was the tightness of the game that Hayes did not win the first corner until the 18th minute, from which Perkins headed over from Will Hendry’s delivery. City went close again on 25 minutes when Sam Hurrell got goal side of a static defence to throw himself at a Hunt cross with the ball bouncing narrowly wide, a flag for offside, although overlooked, would have curtailed any goal celebrations.

On the half hour Scott Fitzgerald worked a one-two with Hendry but as the former Watford player shaped to shoot Martin nipped in with a well-timed tackle to concede a corner. Paul Hakim, who is playing with all his old confidence restored and is a genuine menace to all defences, won the first of City's two corners in the 35th minute but no danger was forthcoming.
Bastock, looking to keep his 50th clean sheet for the Saints, had his first shot of note to deal with on 43 minutes although James Mulley's drive went straight at the evergreen keeper.

But it was at the opposite end that the breakthrough almost came when Hunt's well-placed free kick was flicked on by Frater with Cohen just unable to divert it in at the back post despite getting his head to the ball.

Hayes & Yeading striker Hendry was possibly a touch fortunate to reappear for the second half having been given a stern lecture by referee Chris Miller in the tunnel during the interval just minutes after being cautioned for a foul on James Quilter.

St Albans had appeared cagey during the opening 45 minutes but right from the start of the second period went for the jugular and could have scored three times inside the opening seven minutes.

Hakim set the tone with a scorching burst between two defenders before slipping the ball out to Hunt on the City right. Hunt swept a perfect low cross towards the centre of the penalty area but a brilliant tackle denied Quilter a shot on goal.

But physical training instructor Quilter was not to be held at bay for long and burst clear of the defence only to lash a wild effort harmlessly across the face of the goal instead of testing United keeper Delroy Preddie. Hayes & Yeading appeared to be wilting as City continued to impose themselves on the play all over the pitch.

The visitors were being hustled into submission and City looked to have forged ahead when Martin broke up a United attacked and sent Hakim surging clear of visitors skipper Tom Cadmore only to see his shot across Preddie strike an upright before being gathered by the relieved keeper.

The pressure was maintained when a delightful touch by Sam Hurrell sent Hakim storming down the left and cutting into the penalty area where he pulled the ball back to Hunt whose left-footed shot curled just too late to sneak inside Preddie's right hand upright.

That was to be Hunt's final contribution to the afternoon as his troublesome hamstring gave way with that shot. As City's Certified Equine Hanna Somatic Educator limped off Sulaiman returned to action having last appeared in the opening game of the Saints seven-match winning run.

Hayes managed to stem the tide that was battering them but clear shots on the home goal were collectors items. A foray into the City half won Garry Haylock's side a corner on the hour and during the goalmouth push and shove before the ball came across Fitzgerald fell to the ground holding his face.

Bastock was called aside by referee Miller for a few words but with neither player receiving a card of any description it was evident that there had been nothing more sinister than amateur dramatics in front of the City goal.

Matt Ruby became the fourth and final United player to be booked when bringing down Cohen on 72 minutes and from the ensuing free kick, struck from out wide with some pace by Luke Thurlbourne, Preddie rose well to punch clear.

A draw was beginning to look the most likely outcome as both defences reasserted their authority but Mulley almost produced an unusual goal when he out-jumped Cousins to head a long diagonal ball from Cadmore and stretched the reach the falling ball but could only volley it harmlessly wide.

The build up to the opening goal, on 77 minutes, was most bizarre. Cohen was booked for 'simulation' when falling to the ground after Perkins appeared to make a forward motion with his head. A throw in, taken by Adam Everitt, was the outcome from which Cohen headed the ball forward on the edge of the penalty area.

Cadmore's attempted headed clearance went straight to Sulaiman who nodded the ball into the path of Hakim. At last Hakim found space inside the penalty area and calmly clipped the ball beyond the diving Preddie for his 10th goal of the season and sixth in his last four games.

Given City's improved showing in midfield during the second half and continued dominance at the back the prospect of an eighth successive victory was edging ever closer. Haylock boosted his attacking options on 80 minutes when sending on Keiran Knight for Perkins but other than for conceding two free kicks the strikers arrival made little impact on proceedings.

Indeed the most significant impact was made by Mr Miller on 85 minutes who penalised Martin for a foul on the edge of the penalty area when it was evident that the City captain had cleanly played the ball into Fitzgerald's chest.

After a prolonged delay while the City wall was moved back Hendry stepped up to fire in a powerful effort wide of the blue line of defenders and low beyond Bastock's fully extended right arm for the equalising goal.

City still almost found time to bag the extra two points when an Everitt throw from in front of the main stand skidded off Ruby's head towards the far post where Bradley Gray headed straight into the arms of Preddie.
Despite behind held to a draw, results elsewhere helped move the Saints into the top five of Blue Square South where they now occupy the final play off position.