Concord Rangers @ Home 6th August 2016

[Hatboy]

The Mighty Saints welcome Concord Rangers to Clarence Park this Saturday, as City kick off their National League South campaign on home soil.

It’s been only a few months since the Saints secured their survival with an emphatic victory over Dartford, but the memory of the run-in, which saw Ian Allinson’s side secure seven wins from ten games, including that final day victory is still at the forefront of many supporter’s minds.

Allinson said after victory against Dartford that he was looking to kick-on over the summer, and hoped to carry the success and form into the 2016/2017 season. The manager has subsequently been extremely busy over the summer months, with a number of high profile player arrivals and departures.

In terms of departures, goalkeeper Joe Welch was one of the first to be released, while midfielder Sam Corcoran departed after failing to agree terms with the club, and subsequently moved to neighbours Hemel Hempstead, and was quickly followed by James Kaloczi, who also moved to the Vauxhall Road club. Eddie Oshodi (Wealdstone) and Michael Thalassitis (Margate) departed for pastures new, while veteran striker Charlie MacDonald took up a coaching and playing role with Greenwich Borough.

With such a long list of players who have left the club over the summer, the arrival of a number of new players was inevitable, and Allinson has looked to four of his former players, who worked under him during his time in charge of Boreham Wood. Goalkeeper and Boreham Wood player of the year for 2015/16 joins alongside team-mate Junior Morias, who will partner Louie Theophanous and Sam Merson in attack this season. Ex-Hemel player, and City supporter Ben Herd also joins his former manager, having made the short journey down the A4147.

Other arrivals including Rhys Hoenes from Royston Town, having won 24 penalties last season in the Southern League Division One Central, while Shaun Lucien and Matt Ball both arrive from Wealdstone. Stevenage loanee’s Ryan Johnson and Dipo Akinyemi were signed on Monday ahead of the new season, with both coming highly rated from our League Two neighbours.

Concord go into the new season looking to improve on their final finish of tenth place last term, and manager Adam Flanagan has looked towards ‘Evolution, not revolution’ for the coming season, with the former Brentwood Town manager keeping the majority of the squad which guided the Essex based club to a top ten finish.

There have been the notable arrivals of midfielder Dean Mason from Lowestoft Town, and forward Alex Akofri, who joins from Maidstone United. Chelmsford City defender Marvin Ekpiteta has also joined The Beach Boys ahead of the new season.

While pre-season results don’t mean too much come 3pm, the Saints will be generally happy with their work over the past month, having only lost at the hands of Stevenage. A 0-0 draw with Watford Under 21’s followed, before three consecutive victories saw City defeat Allinson’s former club Boreham Wood 1-0 at Clarence Park, before a 5-2 win over Arlesey Town and a 4-3 triumph against Dunstable Town saw out the summer’s fixtures.

Of course, City have already played one competitive fixture this week, having faced Ware Town in the Herts Charity Cup on Tuesday evening. Second half goals from new-boys Rhys Hoenes and Junior Morias saw the Saints come from behind and secure their passage through to the next round of the competition.

Concord, meanwhile have had a mixed set of pre-season fixtures, picking up just one victory, which came against Canvey Island last Saturday. That victory was preceded by three draws and two defeats, although both defeats came against sides in higher divisions in the form of Braintree Town and League side Gillingham.

Both teams will be looking to push on following their 2015/16 National League South campaigns, and there is no better way to do that than by securing a win on the opening day of the season.

Kick-off is 3pm.

Come On You Saints!

[Hatboy]

Best available opening day match odds:

Bishop Stortford WDLWWD (16/11) Draw (13/5) Hampton and Richmond LWWWWD (19/10)
Dartford WLWDDL (13/10) Draw (11/4) Wealdstone DLDLDW (21/10)
East Thurrock (5/4) Draw (37/13) Hungerford Town (21/10)
Eastbourne Borough DLLLWL (13/8) Draw (27/10) Hemel Hempstead DWDWLL (13/8)
Ebbsfleet United WLWWLD (4/7) Draw (57/17) Poole Town WDWWWW (5/1)
Maidenhead Utd LWLDLD (19/16) Draw (27/10) Gosport Borough LDWLLL (53/21)
Margate LLLLWL (5/4) Draw (11/4) Bath City LWWLWW (23/10)
Oxford City LDLLDL (6/4) Draw (13/5) Welling WWLLLL (9/5)
St Albans City LWDWDW(7/5) Draw (27/10) Concord Rangers WLDLLD (21/11)
Truro City LDDLLL (21/10) Draw (45/17) Chelmsford City WWLWLL (13/8)
Weston Super Mare WDWLWD (34/13) Draw (11/4) Whitehawk WWDWLW (11/10)

[casper]

Saints Team To Play Concord Rangers, Russell Herd Martin Johnson Bender Chappell Thomas Lucien Theophanous Morias Akinyemi #sacfc

Subs, Ball Merson Hill Rees Hoenes #sacfc

[brummie]

Any score??. Nothing on Twitter only the Harpenden games.

[Saint]

2-0 FT. Akinyemi and Morias with the goals.

[oldgeezer]

We're in the play-off places already!
Haha - sorry

[notsorecentconvert]

An enjoyable game and an impressive performance in very warm conditions but who on earth allowed that clash of colours. Yellow and blue versus blue and yellow was ridiculous. Although the shirts, shorts and socks didn't clash, it took a lot of concentration to tell who was who and there were a number of misplaced passes that I am willing to put down to the clash. Surely the ref should know to force a change – even if it meant Concord wearing a set of borrowed shirts.

Anyway, I recall Ian Allinson saying that he wanted to get some pace into the team and he has definitely done that. Very impressed with Lucien on the wing. I liked him at Wealdstone but I thought he was less hesitant and encouraged to take people on. When he lost the ball, he chased back to regain possession. A very solid debut.

Junior Morias is a quality player at this level too. He looks a bit stocky but appearances are deceptive. He's clever, mobile and he uses his body well to shield the ball or get in front of defenders. A very good finish for the second goal too.

Russell the keeper looks tiny, certainly compared to Joe Welch, but he claimed more than his fair share and punched well.

I liked Chappell in midfield too. He looks fitter than last season. Thomas must be horrible to play against – always scrapping and harrassing people. The full backs had some wobbly moments but I liked the way Herd, Bender, Chappell and Thomas all sort of covered for each other and swapped positions. Very smart on a hot day to cover for each other rather than run, run, run and blow up midway through the second half.

Concord had their moments and we were very lucky when they got the ball in the net to get the offside decision but we deserved to win.

Roll on Monday night.

[Hatboy]

I thought we looked very solid in the first half and as it went on created more and more said as the ball was put through that Akinyemi was going to score just had so much faith in him and it was a very well taken lob, I did say that if we got a secon it would be game over as they didn't offer up much but your always worried at 1-0.

Second half we had a few chances early on but as the half wore on they started to look more and more dangerous and got the ball in the net but it was flagged by the lineswoman thankfully a great brake and powerful shot by Junior who looks a handful (looks like a shorter version of Akinfenwa) in injury time.

Definately worth the 3 points and looks like a very promsing side

[westwalessaint]

It was worth the 250 mile return trip from Wales. In spite of being in my wheelchair, everyone was very accommodating. To see my team win was even better! Definitely impressed with more pace up front. Hopefully I'll see some of you at Bath ( it will almost be a home game for me!).

[PaperSaint]

Great to see you again Westwalessaint! It was great to see us pressure a strong team like Concord and importantly get the 3 points - COYS!

[jj123]

Great to get off to a winning start with a clean sheet, especially against a side who seem to cause us issues every season.

Thought the first half we had the better chances with the opposition goalkeeper pulling off two superb saves, but Concord played the better football where as we reverted to long ball football, but the balance of chances we deserved to be leading at the break.

The second half we controlled, but inevitably not scoring early then caused us issues later on and thought a Concord equaliser was coming.

Theo seemed a little off today, but last season he was the star striker and this season we seem to have a few.

Not a criticism but we need to mix up the throw ins. Launching it into the area every throw doesn't work and the defence will read it.

Other than that, superb start, I'd have taken four points from the first two games, hopefully when Morias and Theo are firing on all cylinders with dips chipping in also we'll be a real force.

Spotted on Twitter that Jack Lampe (remember him?) has gone on dual registration to Canvey Island (remember them?) rom Concord.

[casper]

www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/14667084.Dipo_and_Junior_inspire_Saints_to_perfect_start/

[casper]

www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/st-albans-city/winning_start_for_st_albans_city_with_concord_rangers_success_1_4647647

[casper]

Post match interview :- stalbanscityfc.podomatic.com/entry/2016-08-07T03_28_15-07_00

[casper]

www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/14666915.Concord_lose_out_in_season_opener_at_St_Albans/

[westwalessaint]

Having reflected on yesterday's match, we need to make sure we don't relax but play the same way against Wealdstone and Bath in the next couple of games- 2 wins out of first 3 games would be a fantastic start.

[Hatboy]

She was spot on with the offside flag there were 2 off them off including the scorer.

[pirate]

Highlights only for me, but that looked very encouraging

[scottishsaint]

Still far too many commas but other than that, very nice start to the season. MOTM was Lucien for me, worked tirelessly