St Albans City travelled to Ware for their Mithras Cup first leg match last week hoping for the best. But instead City suffered a 5-0 defeat which makes the second leg virtually a formality.
Tommy Barnett was left with a king size headache after injuries shattered City‘s front line and he was forced to completely reshuffle the side.
But despite City’s makeshift look he must have had high hopes of a reasonable result after City’s 2-1 home win against Rothmans Isthmian League Division Two pacemakers Tilbury.
With Phil Waller injured Nick O’Donoghue out for the rest of the season after a car crash and John Smith unavailable. Barnett had to re-make his attack. Defenders Bob Murphy and midfield men Ray Aggio and Kenny Beavens moved up front while Mick King was drafted into the back four.
With Murphy missing the defence looked fragile and Ware were quick to exploit this. Mick King worked hard on the right of the defence but was often left without support. The defenders’ task was not helped by a pitch whose bounce was as unpredictable as Brisbane’s Test wicket.
They also had to contend with Nat Miller who turned in a superb performance up front scoring two goals and setting up a third goal.
Without a recognised striker in their reorganised front line it was hardily surprising that City’s chances would be counted on the fingers of one hand. And when midfielder Willie Dunne was brought off with a knee injury after half an hour City lost even more bite up front as inexperienced teenager Alan Easterbrook took over from Aggio who moved into midfield.
Ware took the lead after 20 minutes despite a valiant attempt from goalkeeper Brian Godfrey but the killer blow came ten minutes later when the ball deceived Phil Wood and leaving Graham Tibbals a chance which he took well.
Five minutes before half time saw a break by Ware which caught the City defence on the hop and Ware were 3-0 up with City looking a very beaten side. Two more goals were added in the second half. The Ware scorers were Millar (2), Gigg, Havell and Tibbals. |
