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Post by Boomer on Sept 1, 2017 19:48:30 GMT
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 1, 2017 22:04:22 GMT
The Saints take on Gloucester City for the first time in a competitive fixture this weekend as Ian Allinson and his side look to bounce back following a disappointing defeat away to Braintree Town on Monday afternoon.
Gloucester were transferred across from the Vanarama National league North during the summer months to equal out the balance of the two National League regional divisions, and following their final position of 10th place last term, will fancy themselves to go one better and reach the play-off positions that they missed out on by ten points.
The Tigers have had a mixed start to their 2017/2018 campaign, picking up three victories, a solitary draw and a trio of defeats during their opening seven fixtures. Manager Tim Harris saw his side start the season with two defeats on the bounce against Chelmsford City and Truro City, but with just one defeat since, the former Newport County boss will be pleased with his side’s form during the latter half of August.
Gloucester defeated thirteenth placed side Bath City 2-1 on Bank Holiday Monday. Striker Joe Parker opened the scoring for the home side before substitute Zack Kotiwca doubled their lead soon after the half-time interval. Bath did grab a consolation goal, but it was a deserved victory for Gloucester who secured their third victory on the bounce.
Despite their move from the National League North during the summer, the Tigers have held onto the majority of their squad from last season including Tom Webb, Ed Williams and Darren Mullings who have all proven to be popular with Gloucester supporters. Four notable arrivals at the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium (Gloucester share a temporary home with Evehsam United) include Goalkeeper’s Tom Handler (Gillingham) and Alex Harris (Hereford), midfielder George Forsyth who has signed from Kidderminster Harriers and former Birmingham City forward Edji Mbunga.
While this coming Saturday’s fixture promises to be an exciting one on the pitch, it will of course be an emotional day for all those connected with the Saints as we commemorate the life of Clive Churchhouse. Clive was a well-known and popular volunteer who went out of his way to help the club in any way he could, from selling the golden goal tickets on a match day to assisting in relaying the new flooring in the dressing room during the summer. The news of his passing was a shock for all of us, but Saturday’s game allows us an opportunity to remember Clive and show our appreciation for everything he has done for St Albans City.
Thank you Clive, you’ll be missed by all of us.
Come On You Saints.
By Jake Ellacott.
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 1, 2017 22:21:01 GMT
This weekends best available odds & form: Bath City LLWWWL (19/20) Draw (27/10) Welling LDDWDL (16/5) Chelmsford WWLWWW (7/15) Draw (39/11) Bognor Regis Town DDWDLL (15/2) East Thurrock (19/17) Draw (45/17) Wealdstone LDLLDD (53/21) Eastbourne Borough LDDWDW (13/11) Draw (45/17) Chippenham Town WLLDDW (22/9) Hampton and Richmond WDLLLW (19/12) Draw (23/9) Dartford DDWWWL (9/5) Hemel Hempstead LWWLLD (5/6) Draw (35/12) Truro City WDLLLW (7/2) Hungerford Town DLLLLW (13/16) Draw (29/10) Concord Rangers WDLWLL (7/2) Oxford City LWWLDL (17/12) Draw (45/17) Braintree Town DWLWDW (2/1) St Albans City (13/15) Draw (3/1) Gloucester City LDLWWW (16/5)Weston Super Mare LLWDDL (83/41) Draw (27/10) Havant & Waterlooville WDWLWW (24/17) Whitehawk LLLLDL (19/8) Draw (13/5) Poole Town DLWLLL (6/5) |
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Post by casper on Sept 2, 2017 13:22:28 GMT
Team for today: Snedker, Herd, Bender, Noble, Gardiner, Joseph, Lucien, Sambou, Merson, Monlouis, Banton
Here are today's substitutes: Walker, Eadie, Kiangebeni, Eshun, Russell
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Post by casper on Sept 2, 2017 16:29:52 GMT
FT Saints 2 Gloucester 3
Herd sent off for handball in the penalty area after 54 mins.
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hoofit
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 191 
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Post by hoofit on Sept 2, 2017 16:48:28 GMT
Battling performance from the lads.
I dont like it when we lose, but thought we played and fought hard, cant ask for more.
Made an exciting game anyway!
Just Gloucester were the better team (although they seemed to fall over too easily)
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Post by saints17mad on Sept 2, 2017 16:52:08 GMT
A decent game today and a shame we lost but it was good to see the team carry on fighting throughout. The first 20 minutes or so I thought we were second best but grew into the game, conceding a goal as early as we did was never going to be easy. The sending off spoilt a good game of football and I personally thought it was harsh (conceding just the penalty would have been fair). With 11 men we could have exploited the wide areas better. We've got some good wingers who like to cut inside but far too often in the first half they were cutting inside from 30-35 yards out rather than closer to the penalty area. Fair play to Gloucester who didn't look a bad team and it was good to see a decent crowd down at the Park.
Onwards and upwards!
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barker
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 135
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Post by barker on Sept 2, 2017 17:30:16 GMT
I thought we made Gloucester look better than they were. They had the edge physically and we need to be physically stronger and quicker and more accurate in our passing near goal. Most of our players out there today were really committed, if sometimes lacking ideas, and battled a lot in the second half (as others have said). But we have one or two that look like they are not fully onboard at the moment. We look to light at the moment...
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Post by stanj on Sept 2, 2017 18:37:18 GMT
What was the attendance??
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Post by Boomer on Sept 2, 2017 18:40:05 GMT
A decent game today and a shame we lost but it was good to see the team carry on fighting throughout. The first 20 minutes or so I thought we were second best but grew into the game, conceding a goal as early as we did was never going to be easy. The sending off spoilt a good game of football and I personally thought it was harsh (conceding just the penalty would have been fair). With 11 men we could have exploited the wide areas better. We've got some good wingers who like to cut inside but far too often in the first half they were cutting inside from 30-35 yards out rather than closer to the penalty area. Fair play to Gloucester who didn't look a bad team and it was good to see a decent crowd down at the Park. Onwards and upwards! I pretty much agree with all of that, saintsmad. I did feel that at 1-1 before the penalty/sending off that we were the more likely to go on and win the game and the surprising thing is that had we managed to hold it at 2-2, we would still be equal top of the table with Chelmsford. 2 or 3 players were well off the boil today and it showed. You cannot afford for that to happen, especially when the squad size is what it is. We are still clearly lacking in at least a couple of areas and it would be good to see it addressed, at some point. The other thing is that in the last 2 games, we have conceded three free headers and have been ruthlessly punished for it goalwise, twice today and once at Braintree. Small margins but enough to warrant a four point turnaround and it needs to be nipped in the bud. COYS! |
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Post by Boomer on Sept 2, 2017 18:43:57 GMT
What was the attendance?? 904. |
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Post by stanj on Sept 2, 2017 18:49:52 GMT
914 not bad, How many I wonder from Gloucester? I believe with the results so far a lot more regulars may start attending..I hope??
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Post by St Michael on Sept 2, 2017 19:28:22 GMT
We need an experienced central defender who is good in the air, reasonably mobile, and, most importantly who can organise the defence. We concede too many goals. As ever we need a tough, ball winning central midfielder who is not afraid to get stuck in. Despite all our good attacking attributes we are going to be outplayed physically by many of the sides in this division.
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 2, 2017 20:13:55 GMT
Even though we went a goal behind early as the half went on We got better and better and were on top.
The sending off really did put us in a difficult position @ 2-1 down, the lads battled fantastically and deserved a point but as previously said we are conceding too many soft goals still, Gloucester were closing us down quickly second half so getting the second equaliser was very pleasing and it was gutting to lose.
Kinsley Eshun looked promising when coming on late on him and Tom Bender made a couple of great crunching tackles too
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Post by casper on Sept 2, 2017 21:53:33 GMT
Post match interview :-
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jupes
Saints Trialist
Posts: 75
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Post by jupes on Sept 2, 2017 21:59:46 GMT
We should have won this game - no doubt. Gloucester defence was very well organised for the most part - and credit to the Manager for making the right moves in throwing on Percy, Kingsley and Charlie to ensure an exciting last 15 mins when we were at a numerical disadvantage. A real shame we conceded so early in the game.
I'm concerned that back-to-back defeats may affect morale in what has been a phenominal early-season run and a third defeat next week at home to Eastbourne would really take the shine off it.
St Albans are defo a top 7 side this season - but we need to be winning games like that to cement it...
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Post by ahad43 on Sept 3, 2017 10:50:37 GMT
Lucien, Monlouis and Banton (a bit) have taken a leaf out of James Comley's book and like to take 8 touches when 2 will do
Two headers from set pieces and they won everything in the air in their box too
Tidy the defence slightly and let the ball do the work and we will challenge
Fair play for Gloucester fans singing all game but calling themselves champions was a bit weird - we're still five points clear of them
COYS
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Post by casper on Sept 3, 2017 10:54:15 GMT
Why do we persist with Merson taking long throw in's when he is the only center forward on the pitch and our best header of the ball ?
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Post by citycentresaint on Sept 3, 2017 11:22:05 GMT
IA makes a good point. £15 a ticket and a referee who should really be doing kids football.
Is not on, the league need to invest more into ensuring the officials are up to the job.
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Post by saints17mad on Sept 3, 2017 12:45:48 GMT
I too found it strange that Merson was taking some throws, he definitely needs to be in the box challenging for the ball.
I think the reasons why some players took more touches than others was that too often the ball was played behind these players and secondly they all have pace and like playing with pace. When the ball is played softly into them, they're going to need a few more touches to crank up through the gears.
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Post by Boomer on Sept 3, 2017 18:41:49 GMT
Lucien, Monlouis and Banton (a bit) have taken a leaf out of James Comley's book and like to take 8 touches when 2 will do............ COYS Spot on ahad43 . A good rule is - keep it simple. |
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Post by Canary Saint on Sept 3, 2017 19:34:01 GMT
What was the attendance?? 904. Add two more headers to that list. Wealdstone and Concord. |
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Post by Boomer on Sept 3, 2017 19:44:34 GMT
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Post by casper on Sept 4, 2017 4:34:29 GMT
Match highlights :-
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Post by daveangel on Sept 4, 2017 6:58:22 GMT
Lucien, Monlouis and Banton (a bit) have taken a leaf out of James Comley's book and like to take 8 touches when 2 will do Two headers from set pieces and they won everything in the air in their box too Tidy the defence slightly and let the ball do the work and we will challenge Fair play for Gloucester fans singing all game but calling themselves champions was a bit weird - we're still five points clear of them COYS Very tongue in cheek after our dreadful start to the season. A belated thank you for a warm welcome and a great day out. You have a lovely club, and we look forward to you visiting our latest adopted home later in the season! |
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Post by davymac55 on Sept 4, 2017 9:21:40 GMT
Bar our game at Chelmsford any of our matches could have gone either way and Saturday was no different. However, certain frailties not been/being addressed. defend corners/dead ball situations. having gone unfortunately down to ten players and 1-2 we get it back only to fail to defend a corner, which, incidentally was probably given away unnecessarily. We have started well and got points on the board early but now need to address our weaknesses and sort out so that a good start isnt wasted. We also need to support our wingers by getting into the box and not standing flat footed- lack of anticipation at times. Get the ball away and have a go. Too close and tight at times. Still, only a point off the top and another home game to come. How the NLP failed to make IA manager of the day during our six game winning run I dont know! Gloucester fans made plenty of noise and hopefully we will return the compliment and reverse the result when we visit Evesham!
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Post by citycentresaint on Sept 4, 2017 18:13:03 GMT
If we get a competent ref, confident we will win when we next play them.
Poor officiating makes lower league football a difficult product to sell.
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Post by saintsdad on Sept 4, 2017 22:42:41 GMT
If we get a competent ref, confident we will win when we next play them. Poor officiating makes lower league football a difficult product to sell. Maybe the level of officiating reflects the level of football |
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 5, 2017 9:03:42 GMT
I don't think the Merson taking throws or being in the box debate would of mattered in this game it was the first time I can remember him being beaten to nearly every header rather than the other way around.
I didn't think IA was a fan of the long throw when Chappell use to take them so surprised we ldon't mix it up a bit long throws and short ones with crosses into the box with Sam in there.
I think bank holiday Monday's game showed we need another centre mid for when Noble isn't fit or available and the goals we have conceded show we need another central defender and we will also need another Striker unless we keep the loanee all season just imagine Sam injured and Charlie suspended.
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ebsacfc
Saints Reserve Team Player
Posts: 256
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Post by ebsacfc on Sept 7, 2017 8:55:50 GMT
If we get a competent ref, confident we will win when we next play them. Poor officiating makes lower league football a difficult product to sell. Maybe the level of officiating reflects the level of football The level of refereeing is truly woeful. We've had two red cards for handballs that weren't deliberate. While I agree the level of football isnt the best a basic grasp of the rules from the referees shouldn't be too much to ask for. |
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