Saints on the attack
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St Albans City provided plenty of guts and determination at a chilly Clarence Park on Tuesday night but Grays Athletic, aided by the predatory skills of the talented Freddie Eastwood, condemned Steve Castle’s side to a tenth home Ryman League defeat of the season.
With a goal in either half Eastwood took his seasons tally against the Saints to seven and in so doing nudged the Citizens back into the Premier Division bottom three and a step nearer to more Ryman League football next season rather than the giant leap into the new-look Conference.
Given the effort City put into the game and the trouble they caused Mark Stimson’s professionals, especially during the second half, the final score may appear a touch tough on the struggling Saints but had Grays shown the same lethal finishing displayed during the 9-1 drubbing dished out earlier in the season then City’s goal difference could have been dealt another significant blow.
Having conceded 13 goals in two games against the Essex club already this season City were keen not to be exposed early on and indeed started reasonably well matching their visitors during the early stages. That said, neither goal had come under serious threat until the 22nd minute when a tragic lapse by Chris Zoricich, who lost control of the ball deep inside his own penalty area, handed possession to the livewire Eastwood who then ran across the edge of the six yard box just biding his time before firing low into the Hatfield Road net.
Seeking to fully establish their technical superiority, Grays, so much quicker than their hosts, penned City back in their own half for the next ten minutes although Lee Clarke should have levelled the scores when freed by Richard Thomas but was denied by the erratic Mel Capleton.
St Albans task became virtually impossible just a minute before the break when Grays substitute Dean Bradshaw beat Graeme Butler to a deep Leroy Griffiths cross and hammered in the second goal; the tenth consecutive game in which City have conceded two or more goals.
Athletic began the second period ominously well from City’s point of view but after Griffiths squandered a couple of good openings City forced their way back into contention.
One point City did make is that Grays are clearly not as good at defending as they are attacking but unfortunately the point was not emphasised with a goal as Capleton, unconvincingly, saved efforts from Clarke and Gary Wraight but was grateful to also see Watts and Wraight, the latter twice, fire over when well placed. City’s cause was also not helped by the sheer reluctance of referee Steve Creighton to punish excessive amounts of pushing by Steve Robinson and Capleton in particular.
For all of the fight City displayed Grays were not without chances of their own with Griffiths and Danny Hazelden both missing good openings and Eastwood, after coming within a whisker with a low shot after some excellent control and change of pace, being thwarted by the sprawling George Clark.
But Eastwood was not to be denied his 25th league goal of the season and just seven minutes from time the youngster, under the watchful eye of former Spurs boss Keith Burkinshaw, controlled a Wes Daly pass and beat Clark from 12 yards with a blistering drive.
Report by Dave Tavener |
