After receiving an ill-advised written lashing from Enfield in Saturday's makeshift matchday programme, St Albans City responded in the best possible fashion at Earlsmead, Harrow, to hand the nomadic E's their first Ryman League defeat of the season and in so doing move into the top half of the fledgling Premier Division table.
During the opening 40 minutes City dominated in some style and seized a two goal advantage through Chris Piper and Junior Samuels. But just when it seemed as though City were about to run riot Bryan Hammatt grabbed a couple of quick-fire opportunist goals for the E's to set up an intriguing second half which, unfortunately, failed to sustain the promise shown earlier on.
City boss Kevin Mudd made sweeping changes following the Saints tame defeat at Gravesend and sacrificed Peter Risley, Al-James Hannigan and David Pratt for the incoming Richard Goddard, Richard Evans and Lee Harvey. The changes proved devastating early on, inside the opening ten minutes the ball twice flew agonisingly across the face of the Enfield goal and it was clear that the debut making E's goalkeeper Stephen Hilton was in for a difficult afternoon.
Indeed City went ahead after just 14 minutes when Piper lashed a glorious left-footed volley past Hilton after a Richard Evans shot had deflected high into the penalty area off Wayne Brown. The quality of that finish was matched nine minutes later when Samuels collected a Piper free-kick, conceded by Dave McDonald on the impressive Gary Ansell, some 12 yards out with his back to goal. In a flash the veteran striker beautifully turned defender Adam Gant and cracked the ball high into the back of the net.
Enfield were all at sea at this point as City dominated with some arrogance, Samuels almost added a third while a majestic piece of control and swivel by Ansell saw his shot deflected over the bar. Hilton, not helped by criticisms from the defenders he stood behind, struggled to command his box and his confidence looked to have been shattered when a speculative Piper effort from near the touchline, which should have been gathered without fuss, was scooped around the post by the keeper after it bounced awkwardly in front of him.
City, though, are nothing if not inconsistent this season and five minutes before the break their grip was loosened when a harmless looking cross from John Morgan bounced almost apologetically off the head of Hammatt and into the net. Unabashed the Saints seemed certain to end the half with a flourish as Hilton saved at full stretch from Ansell but it went drastically wrong as Enfield, through Julian Capone and Jamie Bunn, counterattacked at speed from a corner and City were left desperately exposed as Hammatt pounced for a second time from close in.
Enfield's hopes of completing a dramatic comeback died just prior to the hour as good approach work involving Ansell and Samuels ended with Piper darting into the penalty area where the prostrate Gant handled. Ansell's successful conversion secured City's first ever three goal haul away to the E's. Two fine efforts from Spencer Knight, one just over and the other a crisp ground shot, went close to increasing City's lead before Enfield, a minute from time, had strong penalty appeals rejected as Harvey appeared to nudge Hammatt in the back. |
