St. Albans City 3 Wealdstone 2
Saturday 4th October 1941
Lower Mead
The Citizens' victory over Wealdstone in a Herts and Middlesex League match on Saturday, was the first they have ever gained at the Lower Mead enclosure, which has always been regarded as one of the St. Albans club's bogey grounds. The Citizens' success in a hard, fast and keenly-contested encounter, which abounded with good football spiced with many thrills, was well deserved.
Although Wealdstone had somewhat the better of the exchanges territorially, the Citizens were the sounder in defence and the more incisive in attack, where the ball was swung about to advantage and players lost no time in taking aim when the opportunity presented.
St. Albans made last-minute changes. S. Earle and W. Allen, back from the Army manoeuvres. reappeared in the forward line, and T. A. Short. another soldier, deputised at right-back for E. Cook, who was indisposed. Short proved a big success. His excellent positional play, crisp tackling and well-judged interventions did much to frustrate the sparkling combination of Dyke and Dolding, Wealdstone 's clever left-wing pair.
ST. ALBANS SCORE FIRST.
With the advantage of the slope in the first half, St. Albans quickly opened the scoring. Following a centre by Allen. who was altogether too speedy for Loveday, Wealdstone 's international back, the ball went to SAUNDERS, who had closed in, and he found the top corner of the net with a first-time drive.
Play went from end to end quickly. St. Albans' long passing had the Wealdstone defenders guessing, but Doherty, often tested, kept goal well. Wealdstone 's forwards, by clever close passing, frequently got within range, and St. Albans were at times hard pressed, but Wealdstone 's forwards, holding the ball too long, were often dispossessed by defenders who believed in first-time tackling and clearing without hesitation.
Hall, who is improving week by week, gave an impressive display at centre-half, using his head to advantage and so completely subduing the opposing centre-forward that Wealdstone tried three members of the side in that position without effect. Kirkham, ever in the thick of the fray, played his best game of the season, while Goldsack was always cool and resourceful.
BURKE'S DASH.
Powell's goalkeeping was excellent. He displayed intelligent anticipation of his opponents' intentions, gathered the ball in all positions cleanly and showed no fear no matter how hotly he was tested. It was while Earle was temporarily off the field having attention for an injury, that Wealdstone equalised. BUTTERWORTH, meeting a centre from Dolding. had his first shot charged down, but secured the ball from the rebound and his second effort gave Powell no chance.
Earle's tireless foraging and astute passes and Richardson's scheming started many attacks by St. Albans. Allen. well plied by Richardson, Earle and Kirkham. was the more dangerous winger, and BURKE, playing with great dash, gave the opposing defenders no rest. The centre-forward restored the Citizens' lead with a grand burst through from Kirkham's pass about ten minutes before the interval. Soon afterwards he broke through and netted again, but was ruled offside.
The second half was a ding-dong struggle, with Wealdstone making tremendous efforts to pull the game round, but without effect, for the Citizens' defenders never wavered and their forwards launched repeated counter-attacks. Fifteen minutes after the interval, a centre from Dolding swerved out of the reach of Powell. Goldsack cleared from the goal-line, but in doing so he was deemed to have handled the ball, and Wealdstone were awarded a penalty-kick, which was taken by Butterworth, whose low shot was saved and cleared by Powell.
A DETERMINED EFFORT.
St. Albans put forth determined efforts to make their position secure and, following a sparkling run on the left by Earle, Saunders had a great opportunity, but headed over. With fourteen minutes to go, BURKE obtained St. Albans' third goal by a determined individual effort. He went out to the left to gather the ball and tricked three opponents as he cut in for goal. His first shot hit the foot of the post and, following up with his customary persistency, he gathered the rebound before opponents could get to the ball, shouldered off a challenge by Upchurch and netted with a ground shot.
Although Wealdstone quickly reduced the deficit through DYKE, St. Albans, playing confidently, seldom appeared likely to surrender their lead, and on occasion went close to increasing it. A big lob into the goalmouth led to Wealdstone 's second point. The ball went over defenders' heads. Powell ran out, but Dyke got to the ball first and headed through.
Wealdstone :M. Doherty: A. W. Loveday, T. Kay: B. Leeming, G. Upchurch. P. Bunyan: S. Kay, P. Butterworth, L. Lewis, H. Dyke. L. Dolding.
St. Albans City:H. Powell: T. Short, L. Goldsack; E. Cunnington, L. Hall, S. Kirkham; W. Saunders, S. Earle. H. Burke, J. Richardson. W. Allen.
Referee:Mr. A. G. Kingston (Isleworth).
