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Post by Boomer on Aug 25, 2014 14:37:38 GMT
1 down on 2 mins, defensive mistake. Chances for Clarke and Frendo.
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Post by Boomer on Aug 25, 2014 14:56:53 GMT
HT Eastbourne Borough 1 Saints 0
Giving the ball away too cheaply but very difficult conditions. We have had chances, though.
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Post by Boomer on Aug 25, 2014 15:07:15 GMT
Eastbourne are top of this league, with good reason. On top of their game and their confidence is sky high.
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Post by Boomer on Aug 25, 2014 15:16:41 GMT
Great chance for Steve Wales but keeper saves easily.
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Post by Boomer on Aug 25, 2014 16:00:28 GMT
Not to be.
FT Eastbourne Borough (1) 1 Saints 0 (0)
We had some good chances in the game and really ought to have got something out of it. Onwards and upwards.
COYS.
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Post by Boomer on Aug 25, 2014 16:15:01 GMT
Today's full times
Bath City 1 Havant & Waterlooville 2 Bishop's Stortford 2 Chelmsford City 3 Bromley 4 Maidenhead United 2 Eastbourne Borough 1 St, Albans City 0 Ebbsfleet United 0 Wealdstone 0 Farnborough 2 Basingstoke Town 1 Hayes & Yeading United 0 Whitehawk 1 Hemel Hempstead Town 1 Concord Rangers 2 Staines Town 0 Weston-super- Mare 1 Sutton United 1 Boreham Wood 3
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Post by Boomer on Aug 25, 2014 16:15:44 GMT
Today's attendance at Eastbourne - 518.
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Post by citycentresaint on Aug 25, 2014 16:32:37 GMT
Not end of the world.
Will bounce back.
COYS
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Post by Saint on Aug 25, 2014 17:42:03 GMT
Ah well, we go again!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 19:14:28 GMT
Goodness knows how the Conference fixtures secretary came up with this one,I thought you were supposed to have local derbys on Bank Holidays ! This match was played in steady rain which didn't let up for the whole ninety minutes, fortunately there is cover on all sides of this tidy little stadium. One down inside two minutes,centre back header from a left wing corner,couldn't tell from my position who (if anyone) was to blame,Martin was blaming everyone though.Eastbourne had the better of the first half,they are a physically strong team,they played with three centre backs,and two wing backs and were very well organised and disciplined and played a very direct game,similar to Hungerford,but with better players all round. We didn't create much in this half,Shields threatened from his wide left position a few times but all came to nothing.Second half we were better,Wales had a great chance one on one with the keeper after being slipped in by Frendo after two minutes of the restart,then again around the hour mark,this time he squared to Shields who looked certain to score before the defender made a brilliant recovery tackle. We huffed and puffed a lot after that but failed to create any more chances. No disgrace in losing by one goal down here,on another day we might have sneaked a point. A good turn out of Saints fans considering the trip and the weather. Jimmy said in his last interview we were playing on better pitches in this league,and that is true, but the chips are definitely worse. Today it was £2 for a tray of burnt skins! .(let's hope Frome Town or Hitchin get promoted).
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Post by Hatboy on Aug 25, 2014 19:41:56 GMT
Big Bad Ben had a poor game today giving the ball away quite a bit or putting it out of play, Shields looking as good as before and god knows how their Captain managed to get back and clear that effort that Sean only had to tap in ! A few bad decisions I feel shooting when the pass was a better option (couldn't really say that last season) from Wales and Shields but still on another day could of taken a point.
Bring on sutton
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Post by Boomer on Aug 25, 2014 20:50:38 GMT
Some views on today's game on the Eastbourne Borough forum -
A very hard fought win, against arguably the best of the four sides to come up this season. St. Albans will be kicking themselves for sloppy defending that allowed Adam Watts a free header after just three minutes. If I'm honest I felt the visitors probably deserved a draw today, but the ball just wouldn't fall kindly for us either in the final third and I lost count how many times we were caught offside. No complaints about Ian Simpemba as MOM, who prevented what looked like a tap-in with a tremendous last ditch block, and always seemed to be in the right place this afternoon. I would have settled for a point against an in-form team in difficult conditions before kick-off but three is even better and the League table does look lovely with a lot of results going our way. It looks like a very open League this season, and who knows who will fill the final five places at the end of April! davidb
Enthralling game in difficult conditions and some really good individual performances notably from ian simpemba who is worth 2 players. St albans pressed for most of the first half but I felt the game swung in our favour when aldred came on and started hoovering up the through balls to the impressive saints no 9. Walker and pacquette once again displayed fantastic work rate, also johhno who had a lot to do handling the skillfull saints winger also put in a good shift. Sam beale gets better each game and finished strongly. Mc callum seemed to find the conditions problematic for ball control but always looked a threat. Unfortunately we had the notorious mr spain as linesman and he didnt dissapoint, how that man is allowed to officiate at this level escapes me, the referee was ok but inconsistent and struggled at times but he got most things right. Good crowd in difficult conditions and wasnt it good to hear the faithful behind the goal again. Nice one lads, kudos to all of you. If you smile at me, I will understand 'Cause that is something everybody everywhere does in the same.... language clavius
Excellent 3 points today ,both teams take a lot of credit in serving up such an exciting game in awful conditions ,with greater strength all round we managed to stay the course ,Pacman was unlucky with a header that was sent behind by one of their defenders, kept going to the end ,a few seasons ago the match would never been started let alone finished ,could be a fun season ,TW may be in line for the dreaded Manager of The Month ! borodale
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Post by cheshuntsaint on Aug 26, 2014 8:24:07 GMT
A tough game in awful conditions.
After the went 1-0 up they then hoofed the ball long everytime which I thought Locke dealt with really well. We created a couple of chances and unfortunately Clarke slipped just as he had his shot and I still don't know how Shields didn't score (2 yards out with an open goal! - unbelievable last ditch challenge.
Ben Martin had his poorest game in Saints shirt for a while - next game i'd try Ward and Locke. Lee Clarke was everywhere for the 70 minutes he played until he was subbed for Pires - the less said the better - can we pay him out of his contract?
Shields was our main attacking threat and looked very sharp and dangerous when he got on the ball. He seemed to think he needed to beat the last man with skill and he was tackled each time he tried.
Overall, a decent performance by the Saints against one of the top sides in the league, but if they continue to play hoof ball football they won't win the league.
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Post by davymac55 on Aug 26, 2014 8:37:05 GMT
Horrible day and trip but a game that was played on a pitch that held up well. I may have been at a different game though as I felt that several players had absolute mares. Ben was absolutely shocking and Pires !!!! Am I missing something. We missed two sitters and had had other opps but final ball not always great. They were a big physical team and we struggled to cope with them at the back. We did not get enough of the 2nd ball though and always seemed to be chasing back after we were on attack. At times there was no support or movement and anticipation Good support from us though considering the terrible conditions and distance travelled. Several good saves by both keepers and a draw would not have been undeserved. Chips were poor today. Still, if this is as good as we are likely to play and their fans rate us we may have a season to enjoy
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Post by cheshuntsaint on Aug 26, 2014 9:38:36 GMT
The problem is Gray and Ben Martin are best mates so he won't drop him
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Post by Boomer on Aug 26, 2014 10:31:33 GMT
Tom Ward is injured at the moment.
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Post by citycentresaint on Aug 26, 2014 11:06:46 GMT
Everyone is allowed an off game.
Has been a rock at the back for us and always a menace at set pieces.
COYS
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Post by EFMTFTV on Aug 26, 2014 11:26:19 GMT
I think Pires needs a month out on loan TBH, part of his problem is his lack of match time after that injury and he's not going to get to speed playing 10/20 min cameos and reserve team football I'm hoping he'll come good as he single handily did the business for Woking and Welling by all accounts
As for the game, I think it's covered well above, I thought we played well and should have got a draw We have a tough trio of games coming up now - Sutton, Ebsfleet and Bromley, I think we should know more about this team after them 3, I'd happily take 5/6 points from them 3
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Post by Hatboy on Aug 26, 2014 20:17:30 GMT
Dave Tavener's Review report:
Conference South league leaders Eastbourne Borough dented St Albans City’s excellent start to the season when an early goal condemned the Saints to a 1-0 defeat at Priory Lane in a match blighted by un-seasonally strong wind and constant rain on Bank Holiday Monday.
The match started at a pace equal to the driving rain and swirling wind that battered the ground all afternoon and, for a while, City were reeling as Eastbourne underlined their whirlwind start with a simple goal.
City defender Darren Locke headed away a Lloyd Foot free kick for a corner that Simon Johnson swung to the near post and Adam Watts, standing no more than six yards out, leapt above Locke and headed to the right of the seemingly unsighted Joe Welch.
Boro’ looked supremely confident at this early stage of the game and City were very much on the back foot. But the Saints held firm and afforded Tommy Widdrington’s side few clear opportunities to enhance their early advantage.
That said, Eastbourne appeared equally secure at the back although Sean Shields, coming in from the left flank, suggested that City could get back on level terms.
Shields, back with the Saints on a two-month loan from Dagenham & Redbridge, was one of three changes made to the starting XI that defeated Bishop’s Stortford 48 hours earlier.
Lee Clarke, in for the injured Sam Corcoran, and John Frendo, recalled in place of Elliott Buchanan, were the other alterations as City searched for a sixth consecutive away win.
A spell of Boro pressure ended with Dean Sinclair, booked inside four minutes for a foul on James Comley, firing well over the City goal. Sinclair’s effort was soon matched by an equally wayward strike from Sam Beale.
City responded with Shields winning the ball off the dithering Johnson only to send an angled shot straight through to home keeper Lewis Carey.
A promising City attack was halted when Ian Simpemba unceremoniously took out Shields, and from the resulting free kick John Frendo curled the ball just wide.
City looked anxiously towards referee Carl Book on 15 minutes when Welch slid out of his penalty area to dispossess one-time Saint Richard Pacquette with the ball striking his arm in the process. It was with some relief to the visiting side that only a yellow card was waved.
Possibly City’s best move of the half came when Lee Clarke found Shields who neatly flicked the ball past Johnson.
Clarke continued his run and collected Shields low cross, which clipped Foot on the way through, only to lose his footing when shooting and scooping the ball just wide of Carey’s right hand upright.
Although City were now competing well the possibility of a second Boro goal was never far away and Pacquette, following a cross by James Walker, went close with a header across the target.
Shields caused more problems when shifting from foot to foot before forcing Carey into a low save. With three City players waiting on the edge of the six-yard box maybe a cross could have provided a more productive outcome.
The attention quickly returned to the opposite end of the pitch where Welch used his legs well to save from Gavin McCallum, while Sinclair’s curling follow up was headed away acrobatically by Lee Chappell.
As half time drew close a heavy downpour engulfed the stadium and City’s hopes of a comeback almost got washed away when a loose Ben Martin free kick handed Boro possession.
A quick break looked set to end in a goal for McCallum but Locke did well to get back and force the midfielder to shoot over.
Having ended the first half by winning two corners in quick succession, City began the second period on the attack with Carey forced into saving from Steve Wales inside 40 seconds.
A goal for Wales would have been the perfect gift for his watching father, Peter – the former City defender – who goes into hospital for operations to both of his knees on Tuesday.
Eastbourne are, without question, the best side that City have faced so far this season, so great encouragement can be taken from the way in which they tried to take the game to the East Sussex club after the interval.
And a familiar sight was soon to be seen again as Shields darted in from the wing and tested Carey with a shot that bounced awkwardly in front of the Boro custodian but he blocked it well with his legs.
St Albans probably did enough after the break to justify a share of the spoils but their best chance went begging, on 56 minutes, when Wales arrowed a low pass across the advancing Carey to Shields.
Unfortunately for City the Northern Ireland U21 international tapped a somewhat under-hit shot across goal instead of straight forward, and allowed Simpemba to glide across the sodden turf and make a remarkable clearance for a corner.
The Eastbourne skipper made another crucial intervention to a cross from Comley as City pressed forward later in the game.
Not to be outdone, Welch pulled off a spectacular save when diving to his left to palm away Pacquette’s well-placed first time shot from Beale’s low cross.
The game became more stretched in the latter stages as both sides tended to get the ball forward by the quickest means possible.
Credit must be given to the two teams, and both sets of defences in particular, for putting on such a commendable performance in extremely difficult conditions. The Priory Lane pitch held up superbly too in the face of the non-stop rain.
Eastbourne stay top of Conference South by virtue of this win while City slip back a couple of places to fifth.
St Albans return to action on Saturday, 30th August, when Sutton United make their first visit to Clarence Park in six years. Kick off is at 3.00pm.
Eastbourne Borough: L.Carey, M.Hamilton, S.Beale, L.Foot (J.Lovett 63), I.Simpemba, A.Watts (M.Aldred 38), G.McCallum, D.Sinclair, R.Pacquette (E.Charles 82), S.Johnson, J.Walker, subs; D.Bown, D.Lok.
Booked: Foot, Sinclair.
St Albans City: J.Welch, J.Kyriacou, L.Chappell, L.Clarke (L.Pires 65), B.Martin, D.Locke (E.Buchanan 90), D.Green, J.Comley, J.Frendo, S.Shields, S.Wales (M.Taylor 76), subs; D.Keenleyside, T.Coulton.
Booked: Welch, Kyriacou.
Goal: 3 1-0 Watts.
Referee: Carl Brook (St Leonards).
Attendance: 518.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 21:34:14 GMT
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Post by Saint on Aug 26, 2014 22:53:04 GMT
Highlights from David T:
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Post by Hatboy on Aug 28, 2014 6:32:02 GMT
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