John Frendo, still working on winning over St Albans City supporters after his mid-season jaunt to Spain a few weeks ago, brought a smile back to the faces of the City faithful when pouncing on a glaring error in the opening minute of Saturday’s Conference South match at Clarence Park to secure all three points against Bath City.
St Albans’ world seemed to be caving in following a pathetic showing when bowing out of the FA Trophy at Wealdstone in midweek, but the Saints win over Bath, their third 1-0 success in four league games, has moved Graham Golds and Jimmy Gray’s side to within one point of a play-off position.
City have played more games than all of the teams around them but, in their first season back at this level after three years in the Southern League, the Saints, however erratic their form, are holding their heads high.
Saturday’s route to victory, however, was not a straight forward one.
The day began with a steward being taken to hospital in an ambulance after falling ill an hour before the game.
Matters improved when Frendo struck in the opening minute, but the day became more complicated when Charlie Gorman, for a wild challenge on Dan Ball, picked up City’s sixth red card of the season.
Shortly after Gorman left the scene so did linesman Alistair Wilson after suffering a calf injury.
His place was taken by local official Peter Shepherd, and he wasted no time in winning the confidence of the home support by awarding City a free kick for offside within seconds of taking to the pitch.
And all of this took place under a stunning, orange-glowing rising full moon that loomed large over the Park.
However, the general action on the pitch fell well short of matching the already listed incidents.
Bath dominated the possession, particularly during the second half, but lacked the invention to break through a home defence that held firm with the aid of a deep-lying midfield, and duly notched up a sixth successive away game without a win.
St Albans made three changes after the Wealdstone debacle with the cup-tied Omar Beckles and Charlie Smith being recalled along with Joel Nouble.
Steve Wales, Sam Corcoran and Elliot Bailey made way for the incoming trio.
City could hardly have started the game any better than they did.
Left-back Nathan Young headed the ball forward, Beckles did likewise and then England C international James Comley hooked it towards the edge of the Bath penalty area.
The Romans tall central defender Phil Walsh attempted to head the ball back to his ‘keeper, but only succeeded in heading it upwards before slipping as the ball fell.
The predatory Frendo stepped in and competently hammered a left-footed half volley to Jason Mellor’s left for his first league goal in open play at the Park since August.
The City striker threatened to wrap the game up early on with two more good efforts, the second created by Smith, both of which forced Mellor into pulling off excellent saves.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Bath striker Nick McCootie was well off target with a header, while a low shot by Frankie Artus was comfortably gathered by the diving Joe Welch.
A good chance also went begging when McCootie burst free down the right only to slide a weak cross straight to the grateful Welch.
Attacking the York Road goal after the interval, Bath were soon proving the dominant force again but, just like the opening 45 minutes, could make little headway against the Saints resolute defence.
St Albans possibly had a let-off on 50 minutes when Ian Gayle, a highly impressive loan signing from Dagenham, made a sliding tackle on Artus, but was adjudged by referee Lee Betts to have won the ball fairly as the Romans winger hit the deck.
Bath maintained the pressure with Artus flashing a half volley across the face of the goal and from one of his free kicks the diminutive Andy Watkins glanced a header just wide of the home goal.
St Albans poor disciplinary record this season received a further blow when Frendo was booked for dissent on 57 minutes and then got even worse two minutes later when Gorman was dismissed following a quite dreadful late and high lunge on Dan Ball.
St Albans quickly reorganised with three substitutions shortly after the sending, including giving a debut to 22-year-old one-time Tottenham Hotspur and Stevenage striker Cameron Lancaster.
The Romans added to their attacking fire power with the introduction of the lively Ross Stearn and leading goalscorer David Pratt.
A change was also made on the touchline when the linesman suffered his unfortunate injury, the delay while a replacement was sought led to the second half limping on for almost 59 minutes.
Bath almost found a route back into the game on 82 minutes when Corcoran, on for Smith, fouled Stearn just outside the penalty area.
Stearn took the free kick himself and beat Welch with ease only for the ball to strike the underside of the crossbar before being whacked to safety by Ben Martin.
A rare counter-attack by the Saints saw Lancaster touch the ball wide to Wales who attempted an audacious chip over Mellow whilst on the run, but the keeper caught the ball cleanly.
Bath enjoyed a staggering amount of possession against City’s ten men during the closing stages but in displaying a surprising lack of urgency never really suggested that they could stop St Albans from winning two consecutive home league matches for the first time since March.
Gorman will receive a three-match ban following his sending off, which will commence on 20th December.
This will rule him out of City’s final three games of 2014, Wales will also miss these matches in light of his dismissal at Wealdstone. |