Post by Hatboy on Aug 23, 2016 16:53:54 GMT
This Saturday St Albans City entertain Whitehawk who make the journey up to Hertfordshire from the south coast after a difficult start to the season.
The August fixture list could certainly have been kinder to them as they have faced Maidenhead, Ebbsfleet and Wealdstone in the first month, each of whom could reasonably be fancied to be promotion contenders come the end of the season. A win over Dartford and draws with Ebbsfleet and Wealdstone leaves them trailing the Saints by five points coming into this encounter.
Last season Whitehawk’s expensively assembled squad crushed the Saints by six goals to nil at the Enclosed Ground in early October but incredibly that score was reversed at Clarence Park in February as City embarked on their great escape out of the relegation zone.
Whitehawk reached the play offs in both of the last two seasons, losing narrowly after extra time against Ian Allison’s Boreham Wood, then last time around exiting on penalty kicks to Ebbsfleet in the semi final.
Last season saw The Hawks reach the second round of the F.A.Cup for the first time, holding Dagenham and Redbridge to a draw in East London before losing after extra time in front of over two thousand spectators and live television coverage in the replay. The cup run had an adverse effect on league results and manager Steve King was relieved of his duties shortly after the Dagenham defeat. Coach Pablo Asensio took over the reins and he oversaw a quick reversal in form to eventually finish in fifth place in the league table.
The summer months have seen a large turnover of players with regulars Jake Robinson, Jordan Rose, Nick Arnold, Scott Neilson and Craig Ross all departing and remarkably ten Brazilians signing on. Two of the brightest stars in the league have been retained, notably dangerous striker Danny Mills and creative midfielder Sergio Torres.
City come into the fixture with ten points on the board already something that took until the end of October to achieve last term, manager Ian Allinson declaring himself to be “over the moon” with the points haul so far following the one nil win at Welling United last Saturday. That match saw the introduction of new signing George Casey at right back replacing the suspended Ben Herd, Casey formerly of Stevenage gave a very good account of himself after a nervous start and will have given the manager a difficult choice to make as to the wearer of the number two shirt. Josh Hill was the second change at Welling from the usual starting line-up replacing Ben Martin who was on leave of absence, Hill would be expected to retain his position after a near faultless performance.
Walter Burns
The August fixture list could certainly have been kinder to them as they have faced Maidenhead, Ebbsfleet and Wealdstone in the first month, each of whom could reasonably be fancied to be promotion contenders come the end of the season. A win over Dartford and draws with Ebbsfleet and Wealdstone leaves them trailing the Saints by five points coming into this encounter.
Last season Whitehawk’s expensively assembled squad crushed the Saints by six goals to nil at the Enclosed Ground in early October but incredibly that score was reversed at Clarence Park in February as City embarked on their great escape out of the relegation zone.
Whitehawk reached the play offs in both of the last two seasons, losing narrowly after extra time against Ian Allison’s Boreham Wood, then last time around exiting on penalty kicks to Ebbsfleet in the semi final.
Last season saw The Hawks reach the second round of the F.A.Cup for the first time, holding Dagenham and Redbridge to a draw in East London before losing after extra time in front of over two thousand spectators and live television coverage in the replay. The cup run had an adverse effect on league results and manager Steve King was relieved of his duties shortly after the Dagenham defeat. Coach Pablo Asensio took over the reins and he oversaw a quick reversal in form to eventually finish in fifth place in the league table.
The summer months have seen a large turnover of players with regulars Jake Robinson, Jordan Rose, Nick Arnold, Scott Neilson and Craig Ross all departing and remarkably ten Brazilians signing on. Two of the brightest stars in the league have been retained, notably dangerous striker Danny Mills and creative midfielder Sergio Torres.
City come into the fixture with ten points on the board already something that took until the end of October to achieve last term, manager Ian Allinson declaring himself to be “over the moon” with the points haul so far following the one nil win at Welling United last Saturday. That match saw the introduction of new signing George Casey at right back replacing the suspended Ben Herd, Casey formerly of Stevenage gave a very good account of himself after a nervous start and will have given the manager a difficult choice to make as to the wearer of the number two shirt. Josh Hill was the second change at Welling from the usual starting line-up replacing Ben Martin who was on leave of absence, Hill would be expected to retain his position after a near faultless performance.
Walter Burns
