St Albans City's four match unbeaten home run, their best of the season, came to a shuddering halt on Tuesday night as Gravesend & Northfleet had little trouble in collecting maximum points from Clarence Park for the third successive year. The Fleets victory lifts Andy Ford's side into second place in the Ryman League while the Saints are left to reflect on a 10th home Premier Division reversal of the season played out in front of worryingly deserted terraces.
Having taken the lead against Heybridge on Saturday inside two minutes City found themselves on the receiving end of an early strike on Tuesday as a Jimmy Jackson cross was headed down for Robert Owen to beat Andy Walker with a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area after just 98 seconds.
That goal set the tone for the chilly evening as Gravesend dominated proceedings and Walker endured his most uncomfortable 90 minutes since joining the Saints from Colchester in February. The teenager was fortunate not to concede a second goal when a high ball into the box looped over two players before Paul Boothe beat Walker to the bounce and glanced a header into the side netting.
The Saints first serious attempt on the visitors goal didn't arrive until the 28th minute when from a David Pratt cross 16 year-old Steve Morison sent a back post header just wide of the target. City had a let off seconds later when an attempted header back by Nick Gyoury lacked power and the full back appeared to hold back Nick Hegley as he sought to beat Walker to the ball.
But there was no let off for St Albans on 32 minutes when Darren J.Smith scored just about the softest goal seen at Clarence Park this season. Smith, from no more than ten yards beyond the halfway line, swung over a right footed free-kick from the Fleet left then looked on almost in disbelief as the ball bounced untouched inside the far post for his second goal of the season.
Before the half petered out Gary Wraight went close for the Saints whilst Hegley sent one fine volley straight at Walker and then fired wide with a simpler effort. Despite playing into a strong wind after the interval Gravesend maintained the pressure with Hegley flashing a powerful effort across the face of Walker's goal while the keeper made an outstanding save to tip over Gavin Rose's blistering drive on 55 minutes.
Fleet keeper Darren Smith was forced into his only worthwhile save of the night in the 69th minute when he went full length to palm away a well struck shot from Richard Goddard following a goalmouth scramble. The rest of the evening is best forgotten although Walker spread himself well two minutes into injury time to deny Stadhart from adding to the match winning goal he notched when the side previously met in August.
Report by Dave Tavener |
