Matt Hann
|
A 37th minute Dean Holdsworth goal and a resolute defensive display throughout the second half in the face of relentless, pulsating Saints pressure saw the Hawks proceed to the 4th round of the F.A. Trophy at Clarence Park on Saturday.
Conference South survival will be top of manager Colin Lippiatt's agenda but City came into this cup-tie as marginal favourites in the light of their 5 match unbeaten run.
Absent today through suspension and 'flu respectively were the influential Dean Hooper and Gary Elphick and the cup-tied Lee Charles was ineligible. Lippiatt recalled Scott Cousins and James Gibson to the full back berths and switched Chris Seeby to centre back. Other than Ben Walshe, returning from injury, the St Albans bench was made up of players from the City Youth side.
Both sides were slow to settle and the visitors shaded a dull first half. The few chances of the first period fell to the Hampshire side. On eight minutes Jason Chewins blasted a close range volley wide and former Wimbledon and Bolton star Holdsworth failed to test City keeper Paul Bastock with two headed efforts sent high over the cross-bar.
The 36 year old made amends on 37 minutes with what proved to be the decisive goal. Ben Martin was dispossed 35 yards from goal and the ball fell to Holdsworth who ghosted into the area past two defenders before feinting Bastock into an early dive and cooly side-footed the ball into the empty net from 15 yards.
It was a different game in the second half as City pressed from the whistle through wide man Matt Hann in particular. For the Hawks, Gavin Holligan replaced Darren Caskey and took a lone forward role as Holdsworth fell back to the midfield to help his beleagered defence.
On 48 minutes, Tom Davis turned and hit a fierce shot from 25 yards which beat former City favourite Gareth Howells only to thump back off the far post. A string of City corners could not be converted during this early period of sustained pressure and on 55 minutes, Lee Clarke was denied when his close range header was deflected high over the bar. Moments later, Howells was required to make a spectacular save at full stretch to deflect a wild sliced attempted clearance from his own defender.
Lippiatt introduced Walshe for the final half hour and the City danger man was soon showing his pedigree with two fine crosses in quick succession, each cleared by the impressive visitors' defence.
The best chance of the half fell to Tom Beech, who had been comfortably policed by the Hawks defence all afternoon, 5 minutes from time. The big youngster showed finecontrol to take a long deep cross from Nick Roddis into the area only to shoot well wide of Howell's right hand post. It rather summed up a frustrating day for the home payers and fans.
Report by Tom Lewis |
