Matt Hann in action against Cambridge United.
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If anyone at Clarence Park needed convincing that St Albans City are in a different world to that they have previously known then Tuesday's absorbing and thoroughly enjoyable Nationwide Conference encounter with Rob Newman's Cambridge United will surely have got the message across. United provided far sterner opposition than City faced at Kidderminster and to get a point from their opening home match of the season was a reward that was well received by the excellent attendance of close on two thousand.
During a frantic and often thrilling opening forty-five minutes the newly-promoted Saints gave as good as they got while after the interval the professionals from the Abbey Stadium reaped the benefits of their full time training but could not pierce a resolute Saints rearguard that, thus far, has conceded just one goal in two games and even that did not come from open play.
Sadly this fist competitive meeting between the two clubs was overshadowed by a double sending-off, both for completely differing reasons. City's Gary Elphick, ironically only available for the game after the FA overturned a red card he collected on Saturday, picked up two yellow cards to see red again. Although the foul which earned him a second yellow of the night was not malicious, the fact that he came in from behind on Danny Carey-Bertram left referee Simon Hooper with little option to hand him his fourth dismissal in less than a year. No need to bother the FA with a video this time.
As for the United dismissal, Carey-Bartram reacted in astonishing fashion to Elphick's challenge and shoved his head into Elphick's chest reminiscent of a certain Frenchman. The Cambridge player, however, can expect a three-match ban rather than the community service punishment given to Zidane.
The match slipped quickly into top gear and while the openness of it may not have pleased either manager it provided high excitement for the highest attendance seen for a league match at Clarence Park for 13 years. Cambridge, attacking the York Road goal, were first to threaten with Robbie Simpson forcing Paul Bastock into a save before a crisp drive from the exciting Courtney Pitt deflected off Chris Seeby and just over the bar.
City hit back immediately with Dave Theobald, outstanding in his first two games for the Saints, heading against the crossbar from an Adam Wilde cross. Bastock moved swiftly from his line to beat Carey-Bartram to Robbie Woolleaston's probing through ball before City went close again with Lee Clarke making a clean connection to a Wilde corner only for the ball to clip the stanchion rather than drop under the bar.
The pace remained furious but an accurate finish was lacking as Woolleaston proved with two efforts from distance just over the City goal. Bastock, though, was kept busy but the 36-year old Bostonian is clearly relishing another season at the top flight of the non-league game with his choosing of when to punch and when to catch immaculate throughout the evening.
The Saints enjoyed a purple patch just prior to the interval, by which time United had already lost the unfortunate Matt Hanlon with a knee injury. Wilde spread the play to the excellent Paul Hakim whose touch inside sent Hann scampering into the penalty area of his old club, sadly his low cross-shot eluded team-mates and the goal alike. Moments later a Hann corner was misjudged by Paul Crichton who was relieved to palm it behind for another corner, which came to nothing.
The second half was less than five minutes old when Elphick and Carey-Bartram departed to try out the new changing room facilities at the Park, they will have enjoyed what they discovered - their respective managers were less chuffed.
City excelled to match Cambridge during the first half, the Saints defending had been excellent and when attacking Colin Lippiatt's side troubled the visitors. Where United got on top during the second half was in midfield, City's, particularly Tom Davis, had been magnificent for much of the first half but United seized control of this area as they attacked towards their substantial following.
Before withdrawing Wilde and sending on Ben Martin to cover for Elphick, City pulled Seeby inside to partner Theobald with Hann dropping to right back. Wilde's final significant contribution was a dart into the penalty area with an enticing ball across the face of the goal going just beyond the tiring Hakim.
Woolleaston tried his luck with two more shots from distance, the first was over the top again - just - while Bastock smartly took the second. For a while the match had the feel of a cup-tie as Cambridge pressed for the decisive goal; Pitt was within a whisker of the target with a shot on the turn and then supplied a cross from which Jon Brady saw his goal-bound volley blocked.
Former Cambridge City striker Robbie Simpson, who was carted off to hospital with concussion last time he faced the Saints, burst clear but rushed his shot as Theobald made a crucial tackle and later glanced a header wide.
Having done well just to stay in contention for much of the second half City almost snatched victory when Hann and then Davis worked the ball square to Seeby whose low effort went beyond Crichton's right hand post.
But it was Cambridge who almost grabbed all three points during added time when Pitt had one shot deflected wide by Theobald before wastefully shooting low well wide of Bastock's goal. |
