FA Umbro Trophy glory has eluded St Albans City for another year despite a battling display by the Ryman League side at the impressive Deva Stadium home of Nationwide Conference side Chester City on Saturday. The Saints fought gallantly against the former Football League club, and occasionally too hard for the liking of referee Steve Brand, but John Kendall's side were able to return home with heads held high.
Under grey skies which turned to rain at the start of the second half, the Saints were found to be a step slower than their full time hosts which led to some challenges looking far uglier than they really were, certainly City's tally of four yellow cards and a wholly justified red for central defender Ryan Moran, is well out of keeping with the Saints record this season.
City headed to Cheshire aiming to claim the clubs first Conference scalp in 27 years of trying in the Trophy but an upset was seldom on the cards once Chester had taken an early lead. That said, St Albans, as they had done the previous week at Aldershot, had a purple patch which saw them draw level and come close to taking a shock lead but once Scott Ruscoe restored the Blues lead with a superbly headed goal early in the second half the Saints were heading for the exit.
Kicking towards the visitors vocal support, Chester almost made a dream start as City keeper Richard Hurst dropped a corner but no one could apply the killer touch as Hurst smothered the loose ball before a near mass brawl ensued as players from both sides waded in with the Saints believing Martin Lancaster and Carl Ruffer to be just a touch too keen in their efforts to force the ball home.
Only eight minutes had passed when Hurst redeemed himself with a stunning save to his left as a first time effort by Ruscoe seemed destined for the corner of the net but four minutes later City did fall behind for the first time. Neil Fisher and Matt Doughty worked a short free-kick down the Chester left which ended with Ruffer diving in at the far post to just beat Moran in getting a toe to the ball and easing it over the line.
Far from accepting the inevitable, St Albans hit back to force their way into the game but the equaliser on 25 minutes still came as a surprise as from Mark Rooney's cross from the right Amara Simba rose to place a looping header over the poorly positioned Wayne Brown. Seconds later Hurst, Danny Davis, Spencer Knight and Simba all combined to set up Ben Strevens but a timely tackle denied the Saints a second goal.
For the remainder of the half City comfortably held their own against opposition which was clearly superior but well contained. At the heart of the City defence Moran was outstanding while Steve Blaney shone in midfield and Simba's silky skills kept the home defence on alert.
The game overall was not one to savour but two of the second half goals were outstanding. The first of which, Ruscoe's long range diving header from Doughty's cross on 55 minutes, knocked some of the stuffing out of the Saints. Even so again they came back well and an excellent move which saw Blaney pass to Pratt before continuing his run to take a short pass from Simba before cracking a powerful shot past Brown and against the inside of an upright.
On 75 minutes the woodwork came to the Saints rescue as Jimmy Haarhoff, looking to capitalise on a parry by Hurst, shot wastefully against the keeper's right hand post.
Simba forced a save out of Brown with a low effort before Chester effectively settled the tie in the 77th minute with a highly controversial goal. Moran appeared to be impeded by Chris Blackburn in the middle of the park and could only look on as Mr Brand waved play on. Blackburn exchanged passes with the lively Zambian international Haarhoff before shooting crisply past Hurst.
Sheer frustration inside Moran at that goal boiled over in the 84th minute and he was rightly dismissed after a dreadful lunge at Doughty who himself ought to have gone for retaliation. Down to ten men City's cause now looked desperate.
Even so, the Saints supporters rallied for one final time and they were rewarded with a beautifully crafted 90th minute strike which saw Pratt ran at the home defence before slipping the ball into the path of substitute Robbie Simpson. The former Spurs player stroked the ball towards the near post where Simba slid home his seventh goal in nine games for the Saints.
Renewed optimism filled the Saints hearts but three minutes of added time failed to bring about a desired third St Albans goal as Chester's unbeaten home record was stretched to a 15th match.
Report by Dave Tavener |
