St Albans City held their nerve to progress through to their first cup final in eight years courtesy of a penalty shoot-out at Clarence Park on Wednesday as visitors Potters Bar Town failed to turn dominance into goals.
Tremayne Charles struck the decisive spot kick to end the longest run in City’s history without playing in a cup final but it was Potters Bar’s weakness in front of goal that did as much as anything to end the Saints barren run.
From the opening minutes through to the end of extra time the side from Division One North of the Isthmian League called the tune in this Herts Charity Cup semi-final with impressive approach play and dominance of the midfield.
But Potters Bar paid the price for not seriously testing home keeper Nick Jupp as far too many good positions were wasted by crosses being either too long, going behind the goal or straight into Jupp’s arms.
And when it came to shooting again Town were found wanting with a succession of efforts going wide or softly through to the home keeper.
As for St Albans it was just a case of shaking off the cobwebs after ten days of inactivity and hoping that the run-out will have knocked them back into shape in time for a Bank Holiday weekend that could make or break their season.
On a now familiar cold night Potters Bar came close to making an early breakthrough when a Josh Hutchinson corner was headed goalwards by Wesley Beckles only for David Keenleyside to clear from on the goal line.
Three minutes later Hutchinson dispossessed Matt Taylor just outside the home penalty area and ran on before pulling his shot across the face of the goal and wide.
A move down the City right ended with Brad Wadkins playing the ball inside to Curtis Shaw who fired across Town keeper Ed Thompson only to be denied by the foot of the far post.
Moments later City attacked positively down the opposite flank with James Comley breaking clear. Thompson saved well from the City captain with an offside Wadkins clipping the rebound onto the crossbar.
As the half progressed Potters Bar found little difficulty in creating chances but by the interval Jupp had still to be seriously tested while at the opposite end former Town player Josh Urquhart, set up by Keenleyside, forced Thompson into making a good save with a powerful effort from a tight angle.
Looking for an improved showing after the break City made the perfect start when, on 47 minutes, Keenleyside crossed low from out on the right and Wadkins allowed the ball to run on for the free Taylor to carefully plant the opening goal past Thompson.
The lead was held for just 11 minutes though as Town drew level with a cracking drive by Hutchinson from 17 yards.
Chris Doyle, one of several Town players to catch the eye, won the ball from Keenleyside in front of the cantilever stand and moments later Cole Penny sliced City open with an excellent ball through to Hutchinson who turned swiftly and sent a powerful drive into the Hatfield Road goal via the underside of the bar.
City almost regained the lead two minutes later when Fabio Bufano cleverly picked out Simon Martin but the long serving striker, who had two bites at the cherry, was denied by Thompson and a covering defender.
The rest of the half saw Potters Bar continue to boss the play although it was City that continued to create the better chances That said, a dipping effort by Hutchinson almost put Town in front.
Taylor battled his way between two defenders before sending a tame effort through to Thompson who then moved quickly from his line to block Charles who had been sent clear by Comley.
With time running out an excellent ball by Aryan Tajbakhsh sent substitute Gary Wharton scampering down the right. His low cross looked certain to tee up the deciding goal before Curtis Ujah, back with the Saints for a second spell, conceded a corner with an excellent sliding intervention.
From the corner the ball was returned wide to Hutchinson whose low cross was turned just wide of the target by Fabian Simms and with that chance gone the tie went into extra time.
City were first to threaten in the extra 30 minutes with Charles sending a glancing header narrowly wide from a Richard Graham cross and Comley bursting through before firing over.
With eight minutes remaining the best chance to settle the game in open play went begging when Penny sent Wharton down the right only to blaze the ball high over the target when Daniel Ailey was calling for a square pass in front of goal.
With neither side able to snatch a late winner the tie was to be decided by a penalty shoot.
St Albans had a fifty percent success rate from their previous 14 penalty shoot-outs and when Town failed to score with either of their first two efforts City took a commanding lead through Graham and Shaw.
Ailey offered some hope for the visitors before Greg Ngoyi scored City’s third and after Doyle scored for Potters Bar Charles put the outcome beyond doubt.
City will face either Bishop’s Stortford or Hemel Hempstead Town in the final. |