St Albans City's slide back down the Ryman League table continued at Harrow Borough on Saturday when the Saints squandered two points against a Harrow Borough side which had conceded nine goals in its two previous Premier Division matches at Earlsmead.
Having fought back from falling behind to an early penalty the Saints went ahead on the stroke of half time through a delightful goal from on loan Barnet striker Ben Strevens only to fall away badly after the interval and have to settle for a draw which Ed Stein's out of form Harrow side fully deserved.
City manager John Kendall was looking for an improved performance from those seen in recent matches and whilst giving credit to the team for playing with greater passion on a difficult surface at Earlsmead it was still a below par City display. Even so, there were signs to suggest that City have put the worst of their recent poor form behind them and that better days are just around the corner - this coming weekends intriguing FA Trophy tie with Newport County would be a good place to start.
Beaten just once in the past eight league games between the two clubs, St Albans got off to a sluggish start and but for a good block by Richard Hurst could have fallen behind to a John Hurlock header inside four minutes. Hurlock, though, only had to wait until the 11th minute before he put Borough in front from the penalty spot after Gary Wraight was penalised for handling a Pat Gavin header from a Nikolaj Lund corner.
Three minutes later a miscued shot by Marcus Richardson fell to Marc Xavier but the striker failed to beat Hurst from point blank range. Gradually City forced their way back into the game with the uncertainty of home goalkeeper James Robinson in dealing with crosses always looking a weakness waiting to be exploited. And it was from a dead-ball situation that City drew level on 28 minutes when Spencer Knight's near post corner was powerfully headed home by the recalled Ryan Moran with Robinson nowhere to be seen.
A speculative 40 yard effort by Wraight following a rushed clearance by Robinson dipped just over the bar as City increased the pressure but the Borough keeper redeemed himself with a marvellous finger tip save to deny Mark Rooney his first goal of the season with a scorching drive.
During added time the Saints finally punished a Harrow defence which was struggling against a makeshift attack consisting of recent signings Garry Cook and Strevens. A direct run by Knight looked to have come to nothing as he was dispossessed on the edge of the penalty area but a timely foot in by Corey Campbell found Cook whose precise touch freed Strevens and after rounding Andy Rose the 20 year-old fired crisply into the back of the net.
St Albans began the second period in confident mood with Ashley Cooper setting up Knight for a shot which was comfortably saved while two defence splitting passes by Cooper and Wraight made space for Strevens to get clear only to be blocked by Robinson's dive. Two minutes later, the 60th, Harrow were back on level terms when a glorious strike by defender Rose from 25 years fully punished City's failure to clear their lines from a cross.
Shortly after the goal Harrow sent on substitutes Otis Roberts and Oliver Petersen both of whom gave the Saints a number of problems which they dealt with none too convincingly. Petersen had a golden opportunity to fire Borough ahead but fluffed his shot only to find time for a second attempt which just missed the target. Hurst had to move smartly to deal with Lund free-kick while Strevens battled well to win the ball and slip it out to Knight whose cross-shot just eluded the back post.
Kendall was less than pleased with referee Eamonn Smith's decision to award Harrow their penalty and the City boss was positively fuming in injury time when in a matter of seconds he felt his side had three strong claims for a penalty refused following a handball and fouls on Strevens and Danny Davis.
Report by Dave Tavener |
