St Albans City felt the full force of Hemel Hempstead Town’s flying start to the season on Tuesday when the Tudors twice came from behind to win a highly entertaining 1st Round Red Insure (League) Cup tie 3-2 at Clarence Park.
Hemel are a far cry from the side that avoided relegation on little more than a technicality last season with the side Dean Brennan has built already at the top of the Southern League and, on this evidence, looking strong enough to go the distance.
City, for their part, may feel that they could have moved into a strong position prior to the interval and had a crucial decision go against them early in the second half when a shot by Barry Hayles appeared to have crossed the goalline but was not spotted by linesman Anastasiou.
On the downside for St Albans though this match ended with their third cup exit in 18 days and their seventh consecutive home cup defeat under David Howell. Conceding seven goals in two home games within four days also does not make particularly good reading.
Hemel started confidently, befitting a side that won 6-1 at the weekend, having a Joe Bruce header cleared off the line inside the opening minute.
City responded with Hayles firing over before the veteran striker raced clear of the Tudors defence only to see his well-placed low drive clip the leg of the diving Sam Beagle and roll agonisingly wide for a corner.
From the ensuing set piece, taken on the City left by Richard Graham on 16 minutes, Moussa Diarra rose highest at the back post and headed back across the goal for his fourth goal in two games although the ball did appear to clip the head of Hayles en route to the York Road net.
A minute later a free kick by Hemel right back Danny May was headed over the bar by Jordan Parkes.
City ought to have extended their lead on 21 minutes when a weak back pass by Bruce sent Lewis Toomey clear but the former Hemel strikers shot thudded into the diving Beagle before ricocheting back off Toomey for a goal-kick.
The open and free flowing football continued to test both defences with Hemel having a fortuitous escape when referee Wade Norcott saw nothing wrong with a tackle from behind by May on Toomey just inside the penalty area.
City quickly regained possession with Micah Hyde and Ryan Watts working it up to Chris Henry whose effort was cleared off the goalline by Ryan Parsons.
Hemel let a chance slip when a deflected shot by skipper Peter Holmes fell nicely to Osubu who headed over the home goal. It was one of precious few times that the excellent Osubu wasted a good position.
Toomey and Henry, the latter playing wide on the right, both put efforts over the Tudors goal.
Hemel ensured that the sides went in level at the break when Campana bundled the ball into the net following Osubu’s low near post cross from the Hemel right on 38 minutes.
Three minutes after the restart Henry burst clear down the City right and picked out Hayles with a perfect ball into the middle of the penalty area.
Hayles’s first time shot appeared to cross the goalline, after bouncing off a defender and Beagle, but the decision went against the Saints.
The pressure was maintained with Curtis Ujah heading onto the roof of the net following a Graham corner.
Hemel hit back with Parkes, following Osubu’s pass, striking an upright with Holmes clipping the rebound across the face of Jupp’s goal.
St Albans shook off this let-off and only a fine save by Beagle denied Toomey his first goal in seven games.
But it was only a temporary reprieve for Hemel as City, on 53 minutes, regained the lead when Graham slid the ball home at the near post following a low cross from the right by Henry.
Hemel’s response was impressive as they took the honours during the remainder of the half even though they were forced to wait to turn the score around.
Campana was in the thick of the action as he one shot blocked, another spectacularly pushed away by Jupp and then saw a third crash into the woodwork.
Simon Martin, on for Henry on 67 minutes, was given his longest run out at the Park since April and won several headers but most of the action was now directed at the home goal and on 69 minutes the Tudors drew level for a second time.
Campana seemed to be heading away from the danger area before clipping a precise ball for Matt Judge to rise unchallenged to head past Jupp.
City were not without chances during the closing stages with both Diarra and Toomey aiming too high from crosses by Graham while Sean Shields fired wide.
Hemel made certain of removing St Albans from the 1st Round for a second successive year though when Obusu, ten minutes from time, controlled a Dave Pearce cross from the left before scoring the fifth and final goal of the night.
Diarra’s remarkable goal spree was so nearly extended on 85 minutes when his header from a Graham cross hit Beagle’s right hand post while at the opposite end a firm effort by Parkes was fumbled around the post by Jupp. |
