Arlesey Town (a) on Sat 18th Feb, KO 15:00

[Daedalus]

Southern League Premier Division -
Arlesey Town (19th) v St. Albans City (9th)
Saturday 18th Feb 2012, KO 15:00

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/1310719688_large.jpg

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/arlesey_town.jpg v No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/stalbans.jpg

Armadillo Stadium, Hitchin Road, Arlesey, Bedfordshire SG15 6RS
No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/7021.jpg
Copyright David Bauckham, Centre Circle Publishing. No reproduction without prior permission.

STATTO'S CORNER (written by Daedalus):

Arlesey Town Quick Guide:
Club founded: 1891
Nickname: The Blues
Club colours: Light and dark blue
10 year record:

01-02	02-03	03-04	04-05	05-06	06-07	07-08	08-09	09-10	10-11
Isth2 4th	Isth1N 16th	Isth1N 8th	SthE 14th	SthE 10th	Isth1N 18th	Isth1N 15th	SthM 18th	SthM 9th	SthD1C 1st

Read more about the Blues' club history by clicking here.


Interesting links:

Arlesey Town official website

Arlesey Town fans' forum

A report of the Blues' last game on Wednesday night is not currently available on their website. Their last match was away to Swindon Supermarine and they lost 2-1 in front of 82 fans.

You can see Arlesey Town's results so far this season by clicking here.

The Herts Ad preview can be read by clicking here.

CITYLIVE seems to be up and running again and there will be coverage of this game on their service. This link will be available by clicking here. Regardless, we also hope to have some updates here on the forum.

We'll add any other interesting links here as they appear.


Current Form (last 5 matches in the league):
Arlesey Town - WLWDL (home form - LLDWW)

St. Albans City - (away form - LWLWW)


Top league goalscorer(s):
Arlesey Town - Experienced striker, Chris Dillon, has scored 10 goals in the league this season so far.

St. Albans City - Sakho Bakare is on 10 league goals for the Saints. He grabbed his 10th of the season versus Redditch United in St. Albans City's last match.


Latest Saints team news:

- As the Herts Ad details in its latest article, the team go into this match on the back of a 3-2 friendly defeat to Barton Rovers. This match was played on a 3G pitch at North Herts College in Hitchin last Saturday and gave the Saints an opportunity to keep up their match fitness despite the bad weather. Chris Seeby and Sakho Bakare scored for the Saints but Barton went on to win 3-2.

- Sean Shields, Rob Haworth, and James Bent could all be set to return to the squad for Saturday's game.

- Howell has added two young players to the squad. French defender Moussa Diarra and ex-Spurs youth team centre-back Anton Blackwood have both joined since City's last match at Redditch United.


Possible Saints starting XI (in a 4-4-2 formation):

No images allowed -http://footballformation.co.uk/team/442/300112223602.png

Quick Stats Guide (league matches only):

Arlesey Town:
- Scored in last 6 games
- 8 points out of the last 24

St. Albans City:
- One loss in 5 matches
- Scored in the last 10 games
- 19 points out of the last 27

[Daedalus]

How did the Saints get on against Redditch United?

The Saints have been out of action since the match against Redditch United. They recently played a friendly against Barton (see here - www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/city_set_for_arlesey_test_1_1210992)

Match reports of our last league match:
www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/9504238.Redditch_stunned_as_City_skate_through_the_Valley/r/?ref=rss

www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/city_skate_off_with_the_points_thanks_to_henry_s_intervention_1_1194479


What did David Howell have to say about the Redditch United game?

Howell interview - www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/news/-manager-interview/1824-howell-pleased-with-win-at-redditch

Article in the local press - www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/owsy_relieved_at_redditch_win_1_1196151

Some brief notes:

We scored early, looked set to march on and then we just lost our way. We didn't cope with the conditions well. The lads didn't cope well with the conditions in the first-half.

We gave away some silly goals. We were disappointed to come in at half-time 3-2. We had a heart-to-heart in the changing room. We took the game to them in the second-half and looked to get the three points.

At half-time, we said, 'let's show them what we're made of', and I think we did in the second-half. We came all the way here, played in difficult conditions, and picked up an important win.


How are Arlesey Town getting on this season?

Arlesey Town results so far this season - You can see a lot of their results and reports on this page: www.arleseyfc.co.uk/news.html

Last league match report isn't on their site. They lost 2-1 away to Swindon Supermarine on Wednesday night. They haven't got a report on the Swindon site either.

[Daedalus]

The City Archives - Ilford, 1956[/u]

We have a new feature to place alongside our previews this season, as one of Saints Chat's regular posters, Brummie, delves into the history books to provide us with match reports from the past. This gives a chance to walk down memory lane, or learn a little about City's past, before the next match in the present!

This time, Brummie has given us a typed report of a league match against Ilford in 1956 when City won 7-1. Over to Brummie for the details!

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE

ST ALBANS CITY v ILFORD

25th August 1956

The Citizens’ first win of the season at the expense of Ilford at Clarence Park on Saturday, was their biggest victory in an Isthmian League game for more the twenty years, since they trounced Wycombe Wanderers by nine goals to two at St Albans on December 25th 1935.

Alan Tompkins was the first St Albans player to get four goals in a game since Dave Sayers did so against the Corinthian Casuals in December 1947. J Norris, who had one of his best ever games for the Citizens, scored twice and C Melchior, the right footed player St Albans are trying to convert into a left winger, got the other goal which was, perhaps, the most spectacular of the seven.

After a defensive error had presented Ilford with an early lead St Albans buckled to their task with commendable spirit and played with an enthusiasm which, with all-round improvement in method had more cohesion among the forwards who shot at every opportunity, proved too much for the Ilford defence which was made to look slow-footed, uncertain and unsteady.

Ilford have got off to an indifferent start. Prior to Saturday they had conceded eight goals in two games and dropped J Banks, their regular custodian to introduce I Bains, a recruit from Wingate Albion. And what an Isthmian League debut St Albans provided for him. There were times when he was peppered with hard shots. He shaped quite well in dealing with many of them but, owing to his lack of inches he was somewhat at a disadvantage with high shots, and a taller man would probably have got to two which beat him.

Despite the heavy rain which fell before the match the pitch played extremely well and the game was much faster than might have been expected under the conditions.

Ilford, facing the slope, settled down quickly, and opened the scoring after five minutes when a square pass by inside-left Defoe, which should have been intercepted and cleared, was deflected to the toe of centre-forward BUTLER who, from close range, crashed a rising shot past Prebble.

But St Albans soon got a grip on the game. The defence tightened and the initiative was gained, with wing half-backs Southern and Channer, who played very well, moving up freely to stat attacks which were carried on with better combination and more dash than was shown in the two previous games and certainly rounded off with stronger finishing by forwards who showed increased understanding and the ability to switch positions in a way that created many a gap in the opposing rearguard.

The persistency of Norris and his readiness to make a pass quicker than usual played a considerable part in the final demoralisation of the Ilford defence, while the roving tactics of centre forward Tompkins often drew Whittall, the Ilford captain and centre half, out of position.

Head also had a good match and was unfortunate not to figure among the goal scorers, hitting the foot of the post with one powerful drive in the first half and having another good shot rebounded from the inside of the goalpost in the second half.

It was in the fourteenth minute that St Albans drew level. Norris gathered a pas from Head and pushed the ball through for TOMPKINS who was on the right of the goal. He beat Bains with a cross shot into the opposite end of the net.

St Albans were most dangerous when they kept the ball moving with long passes. It was a run through by Channer, ending with a pass in the unexpected direction of MELCHIOR that provided the opening for St Albans to take the lead after twenty minutes. The Citizens left-winger cut in to deliver a right-footed high cross shot which from 40 yards range completely baffled Bains and went into the far corner of the goal.

In the twenty fifth minute Norris swung the ball out to Melchior who centred for TOMPKINS to guide the ball through into the net. Three minutes before the interval TOMPKINS took a pass from Norris in his stride just inside the penalty area, surprised opponents who were obviously expecting him to run on with the ball, by taking immediate aim to complete his hat trick with a glorious drive into the top corner of the net.

St Albans maintained their grip on the game in the second half and Bains, although beaten on three further occasions, kept out many good attempts while defenders cleared from the line shots by Head and Melchior which had eluded the goalkeeper.

NORRIS scored St Albans’ fifth goal seventeen minutes after the interval when he turned a free ideally placed by Collings into the net.

With fourteen minutes to go TOMPKINS, moving out to the right, ran on to a pass from Head to force his way round two opponents and then, from an acute angle, got in a waist high cross sot which Bains got his hand to but could not keep out. NORRIS completed the scoring when a long passing movement enabled him to run through a gap in the middle and, after resisting a challenge by Simmons, chose his spot to place a left-footed shot where Bains had no chance.

But the attacking was not all one way traffic for St Albans. If Ilford’s defence was made to look weak, their wing half-backs Mulroe, a recuit from Sittingbourne, who played particularly well, and Dodkins, an Amateur international, initiated many promising movements in which Truby, Grainger and Ryan all showed skill.

After their initial slip up. However, St Albans rearguard presented a solid front, with McCormack having much the better of his duels with the bustling Butler.

Ilford’s forwards who had scored three goals in their previous two matches certainly knew how to shoot but Prebble, who was always prepared and showed excellent anticipation, brought off some smart saves, indeed, one flying leap across his area to keep out a tremendous drive by Grainger in the closing stages was the most spectacular piece of goalkeeping seen at Clarence Park for many a day.

Thanks, as always, go to Brummie for delving into the City Archives to provide us with an interesting read alongside our usual match previews!

[webbo]

all that work and no comment.. i know how you feel!

anyway Rob Haworth won't be in the squad on Saturday...

www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/news/-latest-club-news/1841-haworth-heads-to-hemel.html

[Hatboy]

Arlesey have James Gray down as a Forward/Midfielder/Defender

www.arleseyfc.co.uk/ourteam.html

[Daedalus]

Yeah, I noticed that too and thought it was kind of funny Hatboy!

[Hatboy]

Any City Live coverage today ?

[COYS]

Feb 18, 2012 14:49:44 GMT Hatboy said:

Any City Live coverage today ?

There is:

services.hertsad.co.uk/herts/features/hertsadlive/all/default.aspx

[Daedalus]

services.hertsad.co.uk/herts/features/hertsadlive/all/default.aspx

It has just started.

[Daedalus]

COYS beat me to it!

[Daedalus]

Starting XI is as per the opening post prediction. Pretty sure that's unchanged from Redditch United.

No images allowed -http://footballformation.co.uk/team/442/300112223602.png

Just four subs - Henry; Lansiquot, Cutchey, McGonigle.

[Daedalus]

HT - Arlesey 1 St. Albans City 0. Dillon on 18 mins. Att: 246.

[Daedalus]

Newton with an equaliser in added time! Arlesey Town 1 St. Albans City 1.

[Saint]

1-1 FT.

[Daedalus]

FT Arlesey Town 1 Saints 1.

[Deleted]

Play Off hopes take a dip with today's results,with five teams above us winning.
This was a match which we should have won,we had the better players and we created enough chances,just couldn't convert them.
David Ijaha's injury is a worry,if he is out for a while the play off dream is over.
Much as I like Simon, (always committed and hard running) but he does not get into enough goal scoring positions .Today was another example when Sakho beat the defence on the right hand side early in the second half and slide a perfect ball across the face of the goal and it went begging.
I think it is time we gave Aaron Lansiquot a start, he set up our equaliser today and has always looked lively in his very brief appearances so far.Obviously David Howell knows much more about him, but I think he is worth a gamble,especially as we are approaching the 'now or never' stage of the season.
Special mention to Howard Newton, never stopped trying from the first to the last minute,fully deserved to score our point saving goal.
Time to search out the passport for next weekends game !

[Hatboy]

Tav's match report: www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/9540070.City_saved_by_Newton_s_late_strike_at_Arlesey/r/?ref=rss


Mr Howells post match interview: www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/news/-manager-interview/1844-howell-it-looked-like-it-wasnt-going-to-be-our-day.html

[centurian]

unfortunately we are good enough to make the play offs we are a mediocre team in a poor league!

[davymac55]

Poor game between two not great teams. Their goalie did have to make two saves in second half tho. No one came out too well in our team but that is the level of this league. Playoffs/ Do we want to be ? Anyway who is lonecrank? Any guesses? Or anonimity? Agree it is now or never but it is out of our hands as we need others to lose a few due to us having played more games. Nice clubhouse at Arlesey I thought and Belhaven on draught! Almost made it a wothwhile trip

[Boomer]

Very disappointing. It could have been described as a competitive game but one between 2 poor teams, albeit on a tricky surface. They were 19th in the table and we played like a team 19th in the table. We really have to nail teams like Arlesey if we are going to go anywhere. No good having an 11-1 shots on target ratio, when you cannot convert.

Owsy talks about Bakare and Martin in his interview but for me the problem was more in the midfield, which looked ineffective for long periods in the game. It says something about the service they are receiving, when the 2 strikers have to go back into the midfield to pick the ball up, which was evident on more than one occasion. Newton, did try very hard all game, lonecrank, I agree but too often I felt he seemed to be going down blind alleys with nothing on the end of it. He was also guilty of drifting inside far too often, instead of staying out wide and stetching the full back and their defence. The big plus for me was Henry coming on and Watts going to full back. Henry was impressive and we would have probably fared a lot better if he had started. I agree about Lansiquot as well. He has also looked good in every game he has played and his pass for the equaliser was inch perfect. He needs to be given his chance. The big minus on Saturday - the dead ball delivery from corners and set pieces was diabolical. Fire the ball into the 6 yard/penalty spot area with some pace and cause pandemonium in any defence or send in a looping 'dolly drop' down the keeper's throat....................it's hardly rocket science.

Onwards to Frome on Saturday. We can pick up 3 points but only if we see a dramatic improvement over and above last Saturday.

COYS