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18.10.2003 at 15:00 Clarence Park

Attendance : 301

St Albans City

0 - 0

Braintree Town

Referee : Mark Weaver Ryman Premier League

Goalscorers
None. None
Opening squads
Barry White
Lee Gledhill
Derek Brown
Jamie Parsons
Tony Perfect
Martin Williams
Graeme Tomlinson
Simon Martin
Greg Deacon
Jay Murray
Chris Seeby
Paul Rutherford
Steve Good
Mark Jones
Oliver Blackwell
David Culverhouse
Bradley Quinton
Kalam Mooniaruck
Dean Parratt
Victor Asombang
Allan Crosby
Greg Williams
Substitutes
Peter Hanson
Nic McDonnell
Danny Cross
Jake Attwood
Craig Reynolds
Craig Harvey
Ben Cranfield
Lance Forrester
Tony Cherry
Substitutions
Nic McDonnell -> Martin Williams (57)
Danny Cross -> Greg Deacon (74)
Craig Harvey -> Kalam Mooniaruck (85)
Ben Cranfield -> Greg Williams (74)
Yellow cards
Jamie Parsons (45)
Mark Jones (63)
Red cards
None. None
Match report
Having made headlines for the wrong reasons this week, it's back to the football at Clarence Park, beautiful in the Autumn sunshine for the visit of Braintree Town. The Iron have struggled on and off the pitch this season and are just above the relegation zone. No former Saints but among their ranks is Championship Manager legend Kalam Mooniaruck.

Cookie has gone and so has Matt Glynn. Nic McDonnell joins Simon Martin on the transfer list and, with Wraight suspended and the treatment room full, caretaker manager, Steve Castle gives youth a chance. White in goal; 4 at the back: Gledhill, Seeby, Brown (C) and Murray; 4 in the middle: Williams, Deacon, Jamie Parsons and Tony Perfect; and up front: Martin and McDonnell. On the bench: Danny Cross, Jake Attwood, McDonnell, Reynolds and Hanson.

Both defences dominated from the start with barely a shot on target throughout. The absent work-rate of the past couple of weeks was on display today and Perfect in particular will be pleased with his contribution. Midway through the half, Seeby hit a long pass to Martin who beat the offside trap, took the ball into the area and was brought down by the keeper, but to the surprise of most in the ground, the referee waved play on.

The Saints were the livelier at the start of the second half and within minutes, a Martin header hit the bar after another good cross from Perfect. Moments later, a Brown was just too high from a corner. a Gledhill cross was well brought down by Martin who slipped his man to find space but blazed his shot high over the bar.

The visitors rallied and themselves hit the bar in the last few minutes of the game. Both sides seemed content with a point for the last few minutes and so it finished. F.T. 0-0.

For City, the back four were solid once again with Seeby impressing. The young midfield did well enough but tired as the game progressed and lacked an older head. Martin was lively today. Steve Castle will be pleased at a solid rather than spectacular team performance which did not lack for effort. Braintree were poor with litle creativity in the midfield. The striker Asombang looked dangerous but lacked service.

A subdued crowd of just under 300 with a vocal handful up from Essex.

Entertainment 5/10. Technical Merit 7/10. Referee 3/10. Atmosphere 5/10.

Match report by Homer