St Albans City's surge up the Ryman League table suffered its first setback in six outings on Saturday when former City favourite Lenny Piper boosted Farnborough Town's promotion bid with an outstanding performance and two goals which eclipsed the late goal struck by his younger brother Chris as ten-man Saints made a gallant second half recovery against the side widely tipped to lift the championship.
City's hopes of maintaining their winning run and getting back into the title race hinged on their ability to silence Piper the elder but instead of the Saints getting to grips with their current Player of the Year the diminutive midfielder ran the show but, sadly, was also involved in the most pivotal incident in the proceedings.
Less than a minute after Farnborough deservedly forged ahead, Piper took full advantage of some sloppy City play to burst through the middle and be left with just Richard Hurst to face. The City keeper parried Piper's first shot but Hurst appeared to block the Boro player as they went for the loose ball and referee Andy Harvey, who had a decent game, had little option as the laws of the game stand other than to award a penalty and dismiss Hurst.
Between the sticks went City's 18 year-old central defender Ryan Moran, who fancies himself as a keeper, and at the final whistle the youngster walked off to claim the Saints man of the match award after pulling off a string of fine saves.
Prior to Hurst's dismissal Farnborough had looked a very organised and talented side as they controlled the early exchanges but City still created chances during this period with Chris Piper and Gary Ansell both going close. Piper snr was quick to stamp his authority on the game with his cross in the 13th minute being headed against the crossbar by Jimmy Dack, and it was from Piper's 25th minute corner that Barry Laker headed the visitors in front as he became the first player in 539 minutes to beat the City keeper.
A minute later Piper looked set to double Town's advantage before tangling with Hurst. As the keeper departed vehemently protesting his innocence, Moran blocked Piper's spot kick with his legs but could do nothing to stop the relieved exSaint from tucking home the rebound. Piper's ridiculous topless celebration earned him one of the seasons more stupid yellow cards.
The possibility of Graham Westley's side running up a cricket score became more of a probability on 36 minutes as superb defence splitting passes from Piper and the excellent Miguel De Souza sliced City open once more for Gary Crawshaw to score with supreme confidence. Crawshaw looked to have scored again just before the break with a stunning 25 yard effort which Moran somehow tipped over the bar.
Not that many weeks ago City would have simply capitulated in the face of such overwhelming odds but under John Kendall the Saints have moulded into a hardy team which does not take defeat easily and their second half display justly received warm applause at the final whistle. In the 55th minute City's Piper went close with a curling effort but the undoubted star of the half was Moran as he made good saves from De Souza, Crawshaw and twice from Steve Watson. Following a spell of City pressure the meanest defence in senior non-league football was finally breached as Piper sprayed the ball out to Spencer Knight and from his cross Ansell headed the ball square for substitute Robbie Simpson to score with a diving header past the static Stuart MacKenzie.
For a few minutes Farnborough were rattled but gradually they regained the initiative. De Souza was thwarted by Moran and the woodwork did likewise to Watson before the same player, in the 72nd minute, again struck an upright before Piper lashed home the rebound.
Seven minutes from time City's battling display was rewarded with a second goal of high quality as Ansell put a lovely ball into Piper juniors path and after neatly side-stepping MacKenzie the Saints top scorer notched his 10th goal of the season with a cracking drive from an acute angle. Still City were not finished and in the closing minutes they came within a whisker of further reducing the arrears after producing two excellent attacking moves.
Report by Dave Tavener |
