St Albans City experienced an all too familiar capitulation during Saturday’s 4-1 Southern League defeat to Bashley in the New Forest as David Howell’s side lost for the fifth time in 13 games after scoring the opening goal.
City’s recent form is even more alarming as Paul Furlong’s wonderful goal put the side ahead for the fifth consecutive match but only once have the Saints gone on to win the game.
Yet few would have forecast Saturday’s defeat an hour into the contest with City a goal to the good and pushing hard for a second. But within six minutes the game had been turned on its head and torn from the Saints grasp.
Sandwiched between goals from Bashley striker Mark Gamble and captain Dave Allen, City defender Kgosi Ntlhe was dismissed and midfielder Barrie Matthews taken off with a foot injury.
The sudden transformation was too much for St Albans’ brittle confidence and Bashley, having played second fiddle for 60 minutes, ran the show during the closing stages.
Howell made four changes from the side knocked out of the FA Trophy the previous weekend.
Injury ruled out Ryan Moran while Danny Hart, Sean Shields and Jerome Walker were all dropped to the bench.
Tobi Jinadu returned to captain the side from the middle of the defence while Joakim Ehui, on the right, and Nathan Haisley came into the midfield with Furlong joining Sakho Bakare up front.
Bashley made one alteration from the side that lost to Worthing in the FA Trophy in midweek with Allen replacing Matt Vokes.
The first half may not have provided gripping viewing but during 45 minutes dominated by the respective defences City probably just about deserved their interval lead.
City won three early corners but it was Bashley who created the first clear opening only for Mark Gamble to slice his shot comfortably wide.
Matthews, found by Furlong who had an outstanding first half, offered the Saints first threat on goal but his 18th minute effort drifted wide of the target.
Bashley squandered a couple of decent chances with Jamie Stokoe putting a free header over the top while the well-placed Gamble shot straight at Nick Jupp.
On 31 minutes Furlong stretched to head wide from a Matthews cross but a minute later the 42-year striker scored a fabulous goal.
Reece Yorke threw the ball in from the City right, Bakare rose well to head it on and Furlong, at the back post, beat keeper Joe Prodomo with a stunning bicycle-kick from eight yards.
More goals looked to be in the offing as Haisley was denied by Prodomo with Bakare’s follow up charged down.
Jinadu looked to be harshly penalised for pushing just outside the penalty area and only a spectacularly save by Jupp stopped Gamble from pulling Bashley level.
The half ended with Allen sending a dangerous header across the goal while Ntlhe, having conceded possession carelessly, was booked for pulling Allen back.
A minute after the restart Jack Smith sent a powerful effort over the City bar but it was a rare bright moment for the Bash as St Albans took control.
The lively Ehui shot across the face of the home goal and the Frenchman then crossed for his fellow countryman, Bakare, to play the ball into the path of Haisley whose volley flashed narrowly wide with Prodomo rooted to the spot.
Having been reasonably well contained for an hour Bashley equalised on 62 minutes and opened the floodgates.
Stokoe crossed low from the Bash left with Gamble firing past Jupp with aplomb.
Two minutes later Ntlhe appeared to lose his footing and as he went to ground ludicrously brought the ball to him via an outstretched arm, thus leaving referee Matt Eva with no option but to dismiss him.
While Ntlhe was being despatched Matthews received treatment to a foot injury sustained when blocking a shot.
John Sonuga was sent on for his debut as Matthews limped off and shortly after Adam Fry made his first appearance in the league in place of leading goal scorer Bakare.
On 67 minutes David Ijaha led a counter-attack and freed Furlong who was forced wide by Prodomo. The experienced striker cut the ball back from a tight angle but this was hacked clear from inside the six-yard box as Ehui waited to pounce.
A minute later and Bashley fully gained the initiative when Stokoe put the ball into the path of Allen whose shot from 18 yards was deflected past the wrong-footed Jupp.
Nine minutes of mayhem as far as City were concerned concluded on 71 minutes when Fry conceded a penalty with a mistimed sliding tackle on Jack Smith.
Allen sent Jupp the wrong way from the spot to claim the third Bashley goal.
Bashley now attacked with conviction and were aided on 83 minutes by Mr Eva who penalised Sonuga for an innocuous looking challenge close to the corner flag.
Allen, out on the Bashley left, swung the dead-ball into the goalmouth for the unchallenged Stokoe to head in his sixth goal of the season. |
