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Post by Hatboy on Sept 25, 2014 20:22:57 GMT
Herts ad preview: City ready for FA Cup super SundayMichael Edwards St Albans City’s usual match day has been pushed back to Sunday this weekend for their trip to Hayes and Yeading in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. The game was originally slated for Saturday but Maidenhead, who are allowing Hayes to use York Road while their new stadium is built, were also drawn at home. While it’s a change from the norm, City midfielder James Comley does not see it having any adverse impact on the Saints’ performance in a ‘special’ competition. “It’s not ideal but it’s what you have to do,” Comley told the Herts Ad. “We’re used to playing on Saturdays but this is just another game on another day. We’ve got to practice and get ready to work on Sunday. “The FA Cup is special and all the boys want to win. I’m sure everyone will do the right thing to get the right result.” Last season the Saints, as a Southern League Premier side, went on an amazing, and some might say surprising, run, reaching the first round proper and setting up a dream home tie against League Two Mansfield Town. This year, though, the team are in the Conference South and have a weight of expectation to reach the same stage. “Last year was an absolutely great run,” said Comley. “The fans enjoyed a great day [against Mansfield] and Clarence Park was packed to the rafters. “The fans want the same again this year but you never know. We’ve got another Conference South team who want to stay in the competition like we do. All we can do is try to win on the day.” The tie also gives the Saints the chance to right a few wrongs from an opening day 1-0 loss to Phil Babb’s side. Matty Harriot scored the only goal of the game as City started the season with a ‘lacklustre’ display. “It was a weird one because we couldn’t get going as a team,” admitted Comley. “There were no great individual performances either – we didn’t turn up. “But this time we know about them and we can take that into the game.” The club is runing a supporters’ coach to the game. The coach will depart from the Clarence Road entrance to the ground at 11.30. To book a seat, call Ian Rogers on 07714 145862. The cost is £10. www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/city_ready_for_fa_cup_super_sunday_1_3783261
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 25, 2014 20:29:05 GMT
Review preview St Albans City boss James Gray wants side to avenge Hayes & Yeading United defeat in FA Cup clashby Simon Mail St Albans City joint manager James Gray insists his side are determined to avenge their opening day defeat to Hayes & Yeading United when they face them again in the FA Cup this weekend. The Saints produced a disappointing performance in their first Conference South match of the campaign last month when they lost 1-0 at home to United but have the chance to make amends on Sunday when they travel to them in the second qualifying round of the competition. Gray said: “We definitely didn’t do ourselves justice and played as if it was a pre-season game. We got a rude awakening in the first game and we know what we’re up against. “We’re now in a better position than when we last faced them and we want to avenge that defeat because no one likes losing. “It is good that it has come around so quickly but we know it will be a tough game. “We'll go into it full of confidence and it's a big competition for us.” The manager, whose side reached the first round of the FA Cup last season, said: “It’s a big competition and not just for the prestige. “Financially it’s also very important and you can get good money if you can get through the rounds. “It was massive for us last season and I think the confidence we drew from the run helped us go on to get promotion. “We want to win this weekend and the boys will be focused because we need to fire on all cylinders.” The Saints’ promising start to the season continued on Saturday when their 3-0 win at Wealdstone pushed them up to sixth in the Conference South. Gray is not surprised by their form and believes they can remain at the top end of the table. He said: “I think we are definitely there on merit and we could be even higher if we didn’t have to face four of the top sides in a row recently. “We’re only three points off the top but it's definitely not a false position. We have to keep working hard otherwise we will come unstuck. “I think a lot of people thought we would be struggling at the wrong end of the table but we have already proved we have a strong squad.” Gray returned to former club Wealdstone last weekend and has backed his old boss Gordon Bartlett to guide the Stones away from the bottom of the table. The Saints manager said: “Gordon has a tough job there but I'm sure that he will turn it around. I learnt a lot from Gordon in terms of the way to manage and conduct yourself and I’m sure that he can get them out of trouble.” The club will be running a team and supporters’ coach to Maidenhead for their FA Cup tie on Sunday. Departure will be from the Clarence Road entrance to the ground at 11.30am. There are a limited number of £10 seats available so anyone wishing to travel on the coach should book early by calling Ian Rogers on 07714 145862. www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/11490165._We_want_to_avenge_that_defeat_/?ref=rss
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 25, 2014 21:05:07 GMT
Best available odds: Hayes and Yeading 32/19 Draw 12/5 St Albans City 23/17 Form guide: Hayes & Yeading WWLLDWLD @ Home WLWL St Albans City WWLLLDWW on road WWLLW All this weekends best odds can be found here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/fa-cup
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 27, 2014 9:55:37 GMT
FA Cup Preview - Hayes Away Written by Jake Ellacott Following on from last season’s heroics to reach the First Round of the FA Cup, The Saints return to Cup action for the first time since that 8-1 defeat against League Two side Mansfield Town, when they Hayes-Yeading-United-badgevisit Hayes & Yeading’s York Road this coming Sunday. That FA Cup run, under the stewardship of Gray and Golds, saw City reach the First Round proper for the first time in at least 13 years, and it was one of the stand-out moments in a vintage campaign for the club. Despite the 8-1 defeat at home to Mansfield, the Saints still put in a performance they could be proud of as nearly 4,000 people packed into Clarence Park. Turn the clock forward, and it all begins again with the visit to Hayes, who, despite having had numerous budget cuts over the summer, and a max exodus of players, can be proud of their start to the new campaign. They are currently sat in a respectable 14th place, with a total of 11 points from the 8 matches that they have played so far, which, even though it means they are just 2 points above the relegation spots, is still a much improved start to the season than previous campaigns. Those 11 points have come from three wins, one of which against The Saints on the opening, two draws and three defeats. As mentioned above, we have already played Hayes this season. It was City’s first match back in the Conference South for the first time in 3 seasons, but ended up in a disappointing defeat at the hands of Phil Babb’s side. Gray and Golds will surely be looking for revenge for that early defeat with a win on Sunday. The Saints made it two league victories on the trot when they defeated fellow newly promoted side Wealdstone on Saturday. A single first half strike from John Frendo gave City the lead, before a Lee Clarke goal, his first back at the club, and Frendo penalty, both late on in the second half, proved to be enough to bring the points back to Clarence Park. Having played 11 games, City can be very happy with their league placing of 6th, level on points with Ebbsfleet, who are sat in the final play-off place. However, despite the point difference between The Saints and Sunday’s opponents, the management will go into the match knowing that this is the Cup, and anything can happen. League form goes out of the window. Kick off on Sunday afternoon at York Road, the home of Maidenhead United, is 3pm. www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/teams/first-team/news-reports/2798-fa-cup-preview-hayes-away.html
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Post by Saint on Sept 28, 2014 13:54:26 GMT
No Frendo today.
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Post by Saint on Sept 28, 2014 14:47:39 GMT
HT: 0-0
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Post by Boomer on Sept 28, 2014 14:49:36 GMT
HT Hayes & Yeading 0 Saints 0
Fairly even game, if anything we are just about edging it. 2 or 3 reasonable chances.
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Post by Boomer on Sept 28, 2014 14:55:45 GMT
Line up today -
Welch, Kyriacou, Martin, Locke, Chappell, Wales, Gorman, Kaloczi, Comley, Shields, Clarke.
Subs - Keenleyside, Danny Green, Hall, Watson, Jack Green, Tewkesbury.
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Post by Boomer on Sept 28, 2014 15:12:44 GMT
Keenleyside on for Kaloczi.
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Post by Boomer on Sept 28, 2014 15:13:30 GMT
0-1 Lee Chappell.
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Post by Saint on Sept 28, 2014 15:13:57 GMT
1-0, Chappell
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Post by Boomer on Sept 28, 2014 15:24:45 GMT
Danny Green on for Lee Clarke.
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Post by Boomer on Sept 28, 2014 15:38:05 GMT
Howard Hall on for Steve Wales.
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Post by Boomer on Sept 28, 2014 15:51:52 GMT
FT Hayes & Yeading 0 Saints 1.
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Post by Saint on Sept 28, 2014 15:51:55 GMT
FT: 0-1!
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knockers
Saints Reserve Team Player
Posts: 283
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Post by knockers on Sept 28, 2014 15:57:04 GMT
Fantastic result saints, tough draw, glad thru to draw, hemel away maybe?
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Sept 28, 2014 17:08:08 GMT
Terrific result from a really tough-looking draw. Chappell comes up with the goods again.
Will look forward to the draw tomorrow lunchtime... Hopefully we get a home draw, preferably against a team from a division lower to give us a chance of getting through to the 4th qualifying round.
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Post by COYS on Sept 28, 2014 17:11:04 GMT
Can't beat a (seemingly) hard-fought 1-0 win in the FA Cup. Well done City, here's to another lucrative cup run.
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Post by westwalessaint on Sept 28, 2014 17:42:13 GMT
Excellent result. Only one goal conceded in last 3 games (if you don't count a mainly reserve side 2-0 defeat to Stortford in the Charity Cup). Chappell on score sheet again....but where was Frendo? Let's hope for a good home tie tomorrow.
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Post by Saint on Sept 28, 2014 17:54:37 GMT
Frendo was absent due to a family bereavement it seems.
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Post by COYS on Sept 28, 2014 17:58:12 GMT
Frendo was absent due to a family bereavement it seems. Sounds like he hasn't had it too easy on the personal side of things this term.
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Post by westwalessaint on Sept 28, 2014 18:01:09 GMT
Frendo was absent due to a family bereavement it seems. Sounds like he hasn't had it too easy on the personal side of things this term. No - he's missed a few games already, including both our matches against H & Y.
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Post by COYS on Sept 28, 2014 18:04:22 GMT
Sounds like he hasn't had it too easy on the personal side of things this term. No - he's missed a few games already, including both our matches against H & Y. Quite. Hopefully the rest of the season will be a little brighter for him, and credit to him for playing the way he has in the meantime.
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 28, 2014 18:10:21 GMT
I was a bit worried when I heard Frendo was out and Clarkey would be playing up front but he had a very good game winning a lot of the balls in the air and doing a lot of running before getting subbed, Chappell's goal was another Beaut he also had one wrongly disallowed in the first half for offside.
They had 3 chances cleared off the line in one attack but we were the better side and probably just deserved it by one goal.
Sean was knackered by the end cramping up with all the running he was doing.
It was pointed out we could visit that horrible smelly ground 6 times this season if we were to draw both H&Y and Maidenhead in both cups !!!
I would like the winner of the Willand Rovers v Blackfield & Langley replay Wednesday night at Home
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oldgeezer
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 248
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Post by oldgeezer on Sept 28, 2014 18:50:32 GMT
Chappell was definitely not offside for that goal - as clearly heard throughout the ground - "f***ing b****cks!" from one of the players.
Ground is the oldest in continued use so dont expect it to be perfect. Tea OK, chips and burger very average.
Football was very good first half, then a lot of scrabbling in the second half but we held on with tenacious defending (and a little luck).
Onwards and upwards! or whatever the cup equivalent is....
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oldgeezer
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 248
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Post by oldgeezer on Sept 28, 2014 19:03:32 GMT
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Post by westwalessaint on Sept 28, 2014 19:09:52 GMT
Onwards and.......onwards, I guess!
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Post by casper on Sept 28, 2014 19:33:41 GMT
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Sept 28, 2014 19:34:47 GMT
Great to hear Jimmy sounding so enthusiastic about the FA Cup in his audio interview on the club site.
One of the most miserable things about league football is how utterly devalued the FA Cup has become. Third round day used to be the best day on the whole football calendar. Now 8,000 people turn up to watch a teams that make eight changes from the previous league match.
The 'Real' FA Cup is brilliant. We're two wins from the first round proper. That sounds so close yet is so far away. It all depends on the luck of the draw. Brilliant.
I'd love to get through to the first round and get AFC Wimbledon or Luton at home or Sheffield United away.
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yellowalf
Saints Reserve Team Player
Posts: 301
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Post by yellowalf on Sept 28, 2014 20:13:51 GMT
I'd love to get through to the first round and get AFC Wimbledon or Luton at home or Sheffield United away. Sheff Utd away? That's a bit of a trek for an away game. Do yo have any connection to The Blades or do you just like the pubs in Sheffield (the latter being the best reason I can think of for an away game at Bramall Lane!)
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