Lee Clarke scores his 3rd against Canvey
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A season and a half of painful viewing for St Albans City’s dwindling support was consigned to the history books in just forty-five sensational minutes on Saturday as Ryman League champions Canvey Island, in suffering their worst away Premier Division defeat in four years, became the first visiting side this year to leave Clarence Park pointless.
With Canvey having won just three of their last ten games, and lost four during that time which equals the number they lost in the opening 45 games of a truly magnificent season for the Essex club, it can be strongly argued that Jeff King’s side has eased off the gas. But even allowing for such a viewpoint, there can be no denying the Saints their finest moment since beating Aldershot Town at Christmas 2002.
A goal down at the interval, City were ahead with 122 seconds of the restart with Scott Oakes scoring a stunning equaliser and substitute Lee Clarke netting the first of a trio of goals that enabled him to claim the first home hat-trick in the Isthmian League by a St Albans player for almost five years. Such facts seemed mere flights of fancy during an uninspiring opening half that appeared little more than a training session.
With four regulars missing, Canvey were a shadow of their true selves but still created the two best moves of the first half and generally posed more of an attacking threat than their hosts. But, where as City, up to a couple of weeks ago, may have conceded a couple of goals during Canvey’s better moments, they stood firm this time and when Jeff Minton swept a 28th minute penalty low to George Clark’s right following a foul by Miguel De Souza on Ollie Berquez, it was only the second goal City had conceded in four games.
The Saints had a few early efforts well wide of Danny Potter’s goal but they had a let off when De Souza escaped punishment after appearing to clamber over and bring down the clear Minton. A flowing move down the left saw Minton switch the ball to the right via Berquez and John Kennedy only for Clark to easily save Chris Duffy’s shot. Shortly after the goal an excellent interchange involving Kevin Dobinson and Minton – who had an outstanding first half – ended with Kennedy’s shot being deflected wide. For the start of the second half City replaced the ineffective Declan Perkins with Clarke while Canvey introduced veteran defender Micky Bennett to play upfront in place of Steve Parmenter – the Saints move was somewhat the more successful.
Barely 90 seconds had elapsed when Steve Watts and Oakes, as a precursor to two exemplary second half performances, first made their presence felt. Watts, peerless in the air, glanced on a long kick from Clark to Oakes who, from the edge of the penalty area, sent a wonderful rising right-footed half volley high to the motionless Potter’s left for his first league goal in 16 months.
Just two minutes and two seconds into the half and City were in front as Oakes crossed in low from the Saints right for Clarke to just beat his marker at the near post and poke the ball into the Hatfield Road goal via Potter’s left hand post. St Albans kept the momentum going with Gary Wraight, perhaps currently playing some of the best football of his career, testing Potter.
With a highly controversial goal City notched their third on 56 minutes. Wraight played the ball out to Oakes whose cross was headed from beyond the back post – and more importantly from behind the goalline – by the irrepressible Watts for Clarke to clip home from just a couple of yards out.
Despite the fast improving scoreline it could not be said that City were applying endless pressure but every time they did move forward the threat of a goal was evident as the champions wilted. On 73 minutes Oakes showed a glimpse of last seasons form as he hit a beautifully weighted first time ball into Clarke who in turn picked put the free Greg Deacon, after neatly sidestepping Steve Robinson the midfielder was denied by the diving Potter.
In the latter stages City began to open up the Islanders almost at will on 84 minutes the scoring was completed in style as a crossfield ball from Steve Castle, fortuitously, found its way to Oakes who sent Watts through the middle. As two defenders halted Watts progress the ball sat up nicely for Clarke to complete his hat-trick with a crisp drive past the again static Potter and inside the keepers right hand upright. |
