Maidenhead Home 13th September 2014

[notsorecentconvert]

Managed to make it just in time for kick-off and after seven minutes wondered if it had been worth moving things around to clear a 90-minute gap in my afternoon.

Hayes & Yeading 14 mins
Eastbourne 3 mins
Sutton United 5 mins
Ebbsfleet 13 mins
Maidenhead 7 mins

The curse of the early goal struck again.

Mind you, we were helped out when their goalscorer had a moment of madness and got himself sent off for lashing out.

After that, we were well, well on top and scored three lovely goals. The neat cushioned header by Martin that put Wales in to finish so clinically was lovely. The free-kick from Chappell was slightly lucky but then again, if you put the ball in the danger area with pace anything can happen. The third was a beauty, a long but precise ball over the top that Chappell took down very well. His finish, with the outside of the left-foot, was nice too, although it was quite comical just how determined he was not to use his right foot.

When Maidenhead had a player sent off I thought that the ref would take any opportunity he could to even things up. To be honest, Wardy didn't give him a difficult decision to make. When it was 10 v 10 it was much more even and the game became error-strewn and not particularly good to watch. I always felt we had more to offer up front than they did and Chappell's third goal was as neat and well-taken as his second.

Aside from Chappell, who played very well, I thought Kyriacou, Comley and Wales did well. I like the look of Gorman, who is the closest thing we've had to Ram Marwa.

When he came on, our Danny Green was much better than their Danny Green too!

And a word for Frendo, who works very hard and causes defences a real headache. He's not getting as many chances as he enjoyed last year and consequently the goals aren't flowing. I just hope he realises how much good he can do for the team when he plays the way he did in the first half today. His game and general demeanour seems so dependent on scoring goals I hope he doesn't get frustrated. They will come if he keeps at it, and he's still a handful for opposing teams.

A good crowd too, the sun shone and an all round good day at Clarence Park.

I hate to jinx it but we go to Wealdstone next... and they've yet to win this season...

[knockers]

Many congrats managers and players, would be happy with 1-o, win main thing, be nice to keep early goals out, but always confindent we will score. Dont think there is easy game in this league. Looking forward to wealdstone next week.

[ex-saintswebbo]

Comley was outstanding today as was Chappel. A really good 3 points. Spent the 2nd half chatting to the Maidenhead goalkeeping coach who said their manager's instructions at half time was not to concede ant more goals!
Only one concern...Pires... not up for it or just not good enough?

[Macca]

Absolutely amazing performance from the Saints, although very much helped by the red card in the first half. After that everything went City's way and by the time Ward got sent off, Maidenhead had already given up. Could've been an entirely different story without the red card. But great to see us capitalising on the opportunity to put the game to bed.

Wales and Comley both had good games. Hard to say the same for Pires though...

As for Chappell... well...

[Hatboy]

Dave Taveners Review Report:

Lee Chappell was the toast of St Albans City on Saturday when the left-back scored a stunning hat-trick as visitors Maidenhead United pressed the self-destruct button during a highly entertaining Conference South encounter at Clarence Park that saw City run out emphatic 4-1 winners.

Chappell’s first hat trick in senior football crowned an attack-minded display by the Saints that bodes well for the coming months.

That said, Maidenhead did assist the Saints cause by having goalscorer Adrian Clifton sent off when leading, whilst goalkeeper Elvijs Putnins committed a remarkable blunder that allowed Chappell to ease the Saints towards a welcome two-goal interval advantage.

City made three changes from the side that battled to draw with Bromley in their previous outing.

‘Giant’ Geoff Mitchell was laid low by illness while Lee Clarke and Loick Pires were relegated to the bench; these changes led to recalls for James Comley, Sean Shields and Steve Wales.

St Albans propensity for conceding early goals was maintained with the Magpies taking just seven minutes to open the scoring.

City captain Ben Martin picked up a booking when conceding a free kick that the talented Danny Green floated into the York Road penalty area.


Charlie Gorman headed away only as far as Ashley Nicholls whose shot was blocked by Martin. Again the rebound went to a Maidenhead player and Clifton, who posed a genuine threat during the opening exchanges, blasted an excellent volley into the net from 12 yards.

A swift response was almost found when Chappell swung a hanging free kick in from the City right that James Kaloczi, under heavy pressure, was just unable to apply a firm enough touch to trouble Putnins.

A better chance went begging when Wales slid a perfect low ball through the middle of the defence to send Shields away. Putnins did well to save on this occasion and was generously awarded a free kick as John Frendo attempted to pounce on the rebound.

The momentum appeared to be shifting in City’s favour and on 18 minutes the Magpies suffered a big blow when Clifton was dismissed.

The midfielder was about to be booked for a clumsy challenge on John Kyriacou but when given a one-handed shove by Kaloczi pushed out forcibly on Tom Ward and left referee Lloyd Wood with little option but to produce the red card.

Ward was cautioned for confronting Clifton after the initial foul.

City often struggled when faced with just ten men last season but this time they kept the tempo high and it just seemed a matter of time before the Magpies would crack.

Chappell looked to have pulled City level when scoring direct from a free kick but a bit of pushing in the penalty area rubbed that effort out.

Chappell was also involved when his long throw was helped on by Martin to Frendo who spun swiftly only to be denied by Putnins excellent save low to his right.

United’s resistance was finally broken on 28 minutes as City scored their first of three goals during 12 dramatic minutes.

Maidenhead repelled a Chappell throw but City built again with Kyriacou striking a long ball from just inside his own half that Martin, still in an attacking position, headed across the edge of the penalty area to Wales who beat Putnins with a sweet half-volley to the left of the diving keeper.

Five minutes later a foul by Leon Solomon on Wales just in front of the dug-outs paved the way for the second City goal.

Chappell hit a high in-swinging set-piece towards the edge of the six yard box that Putnins completely misjudged and moved too far forward.

As the ball dropped the Latvian-born keeper arched in mid-jump but could only help the ball on its way into the Hatfield Road goal.

St Albans secured a firm grip on the outcome on 40 minutes when Chappell superbly controlled a pinpoint crossfield pass from Ward, and darted into the penalty area before firing past Putnins left-footed to give the Saints a two-goal cushion at the interval.

But United were still far from finished and rallied well with Ashley Nicholls crossing low to Stefan Brown whose shot on the turn thudded into the crossbar. Green latched onto the loose ball but was thwarted in quick succession by Chappell and then Joe Welch.

The visitors enjoyed a far greater share of the possession after the interval but City defended well and went lose to adding a fourth when Wales forced Putnin into a diving save.

On 61 minutes City joined Maidenhead in having just ten players on the pitch when Ward received a second yellow – and the first red of his career – for bringing down Ryan Upward following Green’s through ball.

In support of the City defender it did appear that Upward went downward a touch too easily.

From the free kick, cleanly struck by Green, Welch stretched high to his right to catch the ball.

Further chances came United’s way with Brown shooting across the goal, Jacob Erskine forcing Welch to move quickly to save a rising header, and Green firing straight at Welch.

At the opposite end of the pitch Putnins saved with ease from Comley while Pires, set up by David Keenleyside, shot wastefully well off target.

City, in the second minute of added time, made certain of their biggest win in Conference South for five years – ironically a 3-0 win at Maidenhead on Boxing Day 2009 – with a stylish goal that sent the very high number of children in the attendance of over 700 home very happy.

The Magpies struggled to clear a Kyriacou free kick and when Erskine headed the ball wide Keenleyside seized possession.

Shackled out to the City left by Mark Nisbet and Daniel Brown, Keenleyside, almost telepathically, back-heeled the ball past the two defenders and into the penalty area.

As the ball rolled into his path the advancing Chappell stroked a right-footed shot between Erskine and the diving Putnins to complete the Saints first league hat-trick at Clarence Park for two years.

While it may have been a left-back that grabbed the headlines the final word belonged to a goalkeeper as Welch made a spectacular tip-over to deny Nicholls.

Following the final whistle, the Norwegian Branch of the Saints Supporters presented Steve Wales with the August Player of the Month award.

City’s win lifts them back up to ninth in Conference South and the Saints will be looking to chalk up a second successive victory next Saturday, 20th September, when visiting Jimmy Gray’s old club Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip.

Kick off is at 3pm.

St Albans City: J.Welch, J.Kyriacou, L.Chappell, J.Kaloczi, B.Martin, T.Ward, C.Gorman (D.Green 47), J.Comley, J.Frendo (L.Pires 66), S.Shields (D.Keenleyside 74), S.Wales, subs; L.Clarke, D.Locke.

Booked: Martin (7), Ward (18), Gorman (43), Chappell (83).

Dismissed: Ward (61).

Maidenhead United: E.Putnins, M.Emmauel-Williamson (D.Brown 46), L.Solomon, A.Nicholls, M.Nisbet, J.Erskine, D.Green, A.Clifton, S.Brown (R.Tison-Lascaris 74), B.Behzadi (S.Barratt 74), R.Upward, subs; T.Adeyinka, C.Davies.

Booked: Erskine (11), Upward (55).

Dismissed: Clifton (18).

Goals: 7 0-1 Clifton, 28 1-1 Wales, 33 2-1 Chappell, 40 3-1 Chappell, 90 4-1 Chappell.

Referee: Lloyd Wood (Romford).

Attendance: 707.


Match photos can also be found here: www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/11472476.City_rise_as_Chappell_triple_scatters_the_Magpies/?ref=rss

[moordownbh9]

My brief thoughts on yesterday. Went behind to a 'one of those things you can't account for' goals. Had been on top up to then and were on top after. Obviously the sending off helped but the passing and movement was excellent. Thought Frendo led the line superbly although looks like he's lacking a tiny bit of match fitness to me, and only a matter of time before he's scoring regularly again - keeper pulled off a superb save against him. Shields was a bit frustrating. A touch too many a few times.

Second half I thought the team was very professional. By and large kept Maidenhead out of the danger areas while at the same time not having any real need to do anything other than close out the game, even when it was 10 v 10, and still found time for a 4th.

And Chappell's first touch for his 2nd? That was outrageously good. I'd have watched that cannon off my shin for a goal kick!

Unfortunately, Pires looked like a competition winner again. Thought Wales was immense too.

[Saint]

Chappell interview: www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/the-club/2012-04-10-18-56-53/latest-interviews/2782-lee-chappell-3-points-and-a-hat-trick-i-m-over-the-moon.html

[Saint]

You'll all be heart broken to hear that yesterday's game was my last (For now) running the club's twitter coverage and the thread updates on here. It's been a pleasure.

[westwalessaint]

Thanks Saint. It's been fantastic for fans like me who live a long way away. I hope someone else will take over from you.
Good luck at uni.

[Saint]

Thanks, WWS! Someone will be taking over the twitter, but I suspect updates wont be as detailed or regular. Updates on the forum will be very much reliant on twitter updates I think.

[westwalessaint]

Well hopefully you'll be back for the long uni hols! Lol.

[Hatboy]

Jimmy Gray Interview: www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/the-club/2012-04-10-18-56-53/latest-interviews/2783-jimmy-gray-we-deserved-that-victory-today.html

[Hatboy]

[davymac55]

Great to get three points. Need to defend better. We have already conceded 16, with the team bottom having conceded 17. Cant have 'behaviour issues' either- what was James C thinking of after we got that goal-yes he was being pulled all over the place-yes the ref was a *wat and missed it- but we got a goal and he could easily have got booked for, well nothing!. Cmon!
mr Pires needs to spend some time playing 90 mins every week in-but not heer-maybe he needs a loan spell.

[wirralrob]

Good luck at Uni, Saint - as westwalessaint has already said, for us folk who live away from Hertfordshire this forum is a vital link to what's going on, especially during games.

[Hatboy]

www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/chappell_expects_frendo_goal_rush_very_soon_1_3772075

[Hatboy]

Quote taken from the Maidenhead website:

The home team were not backwards about coming forwards and their was an urgent directness to their play. It soon became clear that the touchlines had been brought in significantly to provide Lee Chappell with a long run up to unleash a throw in straight into the penalty area. This up and at 'em attitude extended throughout the team, which led to a niggly match, well controlled by referee Lloyd Wood.

The Saints managed to get under the skin of the Magpies for much of the game, and this boiled over into a confrontation in the nineteenth minute between Tom Ward and Clifton. With Ward getting into Clifton's face, the midfielders response was to push the defender over, with the inevitable consequence of a red card.