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13.03.2004 at 15:00 Woodside Park

Attendance : 421

Bishops Stortford

2 - 2

St Albans City

Referee : Gary Evetts

Ryman Premier League

Goalscorers

Alex Martin (14)
James Bunn (30)

Steve Watts (76)
Steve Watts (81)

Opening squads

Micky Desborough
Anthony Allman
Gareth Gwillim
Dave Rainford
Grant Cooper
Aaron Barnett
Richard Howell
Glen Southam
Alex Martin
James Bunn
Scott Forbes

George Clark
Richard Thomas
Dave Sargent
Corey Campbell
Derek Brown
Chris Zoricich
Steve Castle
Gary Wraight
Steve Watts
Lee Clarke
Graeme Butler

Substitutes

Paul Kyriacou
Martin Hayes
Darren Wiltshire
Jason Haniff
Neil Tillotson

Wesley Jackman
Scott Oakes
Greg Deacon
Neil Gough
Chris Seeby

Substitutions

Paul Kyriacou -> James Bunn (51)
Martin Hayes -> Paul Kyriacou (83)

Greg Deacon -> Richard Thomas (63)
Greg Deacon -> Steve Castle (70)

Yellow cards

Dave Rainford (65)

Lee Clarke (21)

Red cards

None

None.

Match report

Gary Wraight crosses for City's first goal

After a wretched first half performance at a blustery Woodside Park on Saturday, St Albans City produced a stirring second half comeback to salvage a much needed Ryman League point only for results elsewhere to leave Steve Castle’s erratic side entrenched in the Premier Division bottom four.

Overall, City probably deserved the draw but during the opening 45 minutes Martin Hayes Bishop’s Stortford side should have put the result beyond doubt and added to City’s on and off field problems. Credit, however, goes to the Saints for the manner in which they turned the game around – most notably after Greg Deacon replaced Castle who had not had one of his better days.

But there will be concern at the manner in which Stortford created so many first half problems for the leaky Saints defence.

The match got off to a lively start as the Bishop’s sought to end a run of six straight defeats at the feet of the Saints and improve upon a record of just two wins in the past 15 league games between the sides. And it was Stortford who drew first blood, on 14 minutes, although it was a goal out of nothing and came at a time when City were pressing forward until Dave Sargent lost possession and the Blues swiftly moved into the Saints half.

Even so, there appeared no threat until Alex Martin tried his luck with a left footed effort from 30 yards that George Clark, in the City goal, watched sail high to his right for the strikers third league goal of the season.

St Albans should have been level from the penalty spot inside three minutes. Steve Watts, possibly the most influential of Castle’s 15 signings to date, weaved his way between three Stortford defenders before being tripped by Anthony Allman. Watts took the spot kick himself but Micky Desborough correctly dived to his right to condemn City to their first failed penalty in six attempts this season.

St Albans hit back with a spell of sustained pressure but other than for a soft effort by Richard Thomas the home keeper was not tested. But it was the Bishop’s, with their superior passing movements, who were causing most problems and went close through Martin after the tiny forward had evaded Brown with ease.

The Bishop’s increased their lead on the half hour with a terribly soft goal. Bunn appeared to be hemmed in by three City defenders as he received the ball inside the penalty area close to the goalline. But as the visitors stood off he almost cheekily lifted it over them, and Clark, and inside the back post for his 10th goal of the season.

During the 15 first half minutes remaining Stortford should have put the result beyond doubt with Glen Southam, Martin and especially Dave Rainford all having good chances to finish City off.

St Albans intentions after the restart were a good deal more positive, and possibly aided by Stortford taking a foot off the accelerator, the Saints were able to get back into contention. On 50 minutes Desborough made a brilliant save high to his left to deny Gary Wraight but this was to be Wraight’s afternoon as City battled back.

With a succession of superbly timed and crisp tackles Stortford did enough to keep City at bay until the 76th minute when their pressure was rewarded. Deacon, showing a return to his early season form, won the ball and helped it on to Lee Clarke who in turn sent Wraight into the penalty area down the City right. After shrugging off one solid challenge the midfielder crossed low in front of the keeper for Watts to score with ease at the back post.

Five minutes later and City were back on level terms courtesy of a horrendous error by Desborough. Chris Zoricich and Neil Gough linked down the Saints right, the latter crossed to the far post where Desborough, in attempting to catch the ball one-handed, simply dropped it at the feet of Watts who gleefully walked in his fifth goal in six games.

Through Watts and Clark, City could have snatched victory but during added time Stortford, too, wasted two good chances to steal the points.

Report by Dave Tavener