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Post by EFMTFTV on Sept 21, 2014 13:31:04 GMT
All the talk of segregation and 'firms' pre-match and Wealdstone were true to form assulting 2 of our supporters after the game
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Post by Boomer on Sept 21, 2014 13:49:03 GMT
Excellent video from WFC TV of yesterday's game - here
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Sept 21, 2014 13:56:47 GMT
Well, that was an enjoyable afternoon, although I felt a bit sorry for my two pals who support Wealdstone. They really do look to be in a pickle.
We were pretty much on top for the first half-hour and although Stones had their moments, their number 9 McGleish, wasn't going to frighten anyone. But just as we seemed to be getting a bit frustrated Frendo walked through their defence to score the opening goal. I was near the benches at the time and I can understand why their gaffer, Gordon Bartlett, was so annoyed. It was a terrible goal to concede but credit to Frendo, he made it happen and took it very well. I think Wealdstone under-estimated Frendo. They put their bigger, stronger centre half on him without realising that there's much more to Frendo's game than just bullying defenders. The way he drops deep, takes the ball in to feet, turns and tries to play others in is good to watch.
Comley was brilliant and baffling. Some of his touches and turns were sublime but there were two moments when he causes such frustration - one when Welch tried to throw the ball out quickly and Comley wasn't paying attention and Wealdstone nearly broke on us (a better team would have punished that), and the other when Sean Shields (rightly) had a go at him for not marking up when Stones had a free-kick. But the first five minutes of the second half were really impressive and when the game opened up later on, he looked like he was enjoying himself.
Walesy seemed out of sorts and Jimmy Gray was giving him a bit of grief from the bench. Perhaps just one of those days for him. Shields needs to get himself into the games more. He's far too talented to just allow the game to pass him by.
I was never really worried that we'd lose but just before we scored the second I had a horrible feeling they might get level. The second goal was well taken although their defence did part like the Red Sea for us. There was no doubt about the penalty. It was a daft one to give away and Lee Clarke really should have had a second to make it 4-0. All in all, though, a very good afternoon's work.
Just a word on Wealdstone... Great bar, fantastic burgers at the Rollin' Kitchen. Football ground food is, generally, disgusting from Premier League to non-league but this shows what can be done with a bit of thought. The programme too was a cut above ours. The Lee Chappell column is fantastic -- just the right amount of humour and warmth.
I didn't hear the abuse shouted at Jonathan North, their keeper, but if it did happen that's pathetic. Beneath comment, really. North is wearing pink to raise awareness for a cancer charity, apparently.
Just a quick one about the chant "this place is disgusting"... Hemel, now that's disgusting (dog poo, old chip wrappers, empty beer cans, junk behind the stand at one end on my last visit). Wealdstone, as a club has spent almost 25 years trying to recover after they had their old ground sold to a supermarket. They got ripped off by Watford, had to play at Yeading, Northwood and now have made a nice little home at Ruislip. Worth remembering that all non-league clubs are only two or three wrong turns away from oblivion. Dreary lecture over, sorry!
to end on a positive, it was a great all-round team display. Ben Martin deserves a mention because it looked like he hurt himself in the warm-up - he certainly had some physio before kick-off. My mate was complaining that Stones didn't put him under pressure but his reading of the game meant he was rarely in trouble.
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Post by harpendenstone on Sept 21, 2014 16:28:35 GMT
Thanks, from a Stones fan still smarting after our capitulation yesterday. But we don't need sympathy and we also don't need a bunch of knobs turning up to gloat over our current predicament. I heard talk of a couple of your fans 'being assaulted' and if that's true it reflects very badly on this decent club. Perhaps somebody would like to provide further details?
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Post by westwalessaint on Sept 21, 2014 18:13:33 GMT
Hi harpendenstone - whilst it is a bit childish for teams to gloat over those at the bottom, the fact is that it happens. I can certainly remember being on the receiving end when Saints have been relegated in the past. I guess its just as bad as supporters from teams who gloat when their champions!! There are far worse things in football, so my advice is 'build a bridge and get over it'! Lol.
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Post by COYS on Sept 21, 2014 18:42:54 GMT
Great highlights. Thanks for posting those, Boomer.
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boojiboy
Saints Reserve Team Player
Posts: 329
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Post by boojiboy on Sept 21, 2014 18:53:22 GMT
Hi harpendenstone - whilst it is a bit childish for teams to gloat over those at the bottom, the fact is that it happens. I can certainly remember being on the receiving end when Saints have been relegated in the past. I guess its just as bad as supporters from teams who gloat when their champions!! There are far worse things in football, so my advice is 'build a bridge and get over it'! Lol. Spot on. Nothing wrong with a bit of banter, that's part of the enjoyment of going to a game. If you want to watch a happy clappy game, you would be better going to watch rugby!
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tudor
Saints Trialist
Posts: 50
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Post by tudor on Sept 21, 2014 20:24:18 GMT
Just a quick one about the chant "this place is disgusting"... Hemel, now that's disgusting (dog poo, old chip wrappers, empty beer cans, junk behind the stand at one end on my last visit). Plenty of garbage lying around at Clarence Park if you open your eyes, and you pay £5 more for the privilege of seeing it too. We have a thoroughly decent ground that makes money - what's your excuse?
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Sept 21, 2014 20:40:28 GMT
Ok Tudor, no offence meant, merely an observation based on several visits to Vauxhall Road. I've never almost trod in dog poo at Clarence Park, although I'd agree the terraces could do with having the moss swept off them.
Fair point about the admission price. Not sure you'd find too many Saints fans who think it's an appropriate price.
Having said that, we've paid £10.71 per home league point so far this season, you've paid £25 per home league point so at the moment we're doing okay.
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Post by westwalessaint on Sept 21, 2014 20:48:28 GMT
Ok Tudor, no offence meant, merely an observation based on several visits to Vauxhall Road. I've never almost trod in dog poo at Clarence Park, although I'd agree the terraces could do with having the moss swept off them. Fair point about the admission price. Not sure you'd find too many Saints fans who think it's an appropriate price. Having said that, we've paid £10.71 per home league point so far this season, you've paid £25 per home league point so at the moment we're doing okay. Looks like you've well and truly trumped tudors comments, recentconvert. The also get more dog poo per £1 of admission fee! Lol.
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Post by COYS on Sept 22, 2014 1:44:21 GMT
Having said that, we've paid £10.71 per home league point so far this season, you've paid £25 per home league point so at the moment we're doing okay. Great stat.
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 22, 2014 6:35:02 GMT
Excellent video from WFC TV of yesterday's game What excellent as in the quality or as in showing it like Wealdstone dominated the game and were unlucky lol Dave Taveners Review report: www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/11486781.Stones_rolled_over_as_Saints_march_on/Stones rolled over as Saints march on First published Sunday 21 September 2014 in Sport by David Tavener Forty-three years after last playing Wealdstone in a league game, it was a case of déjà vu for St Albans City on Saturday as they followed up their 3-0 1971 victory at Lower Mead with a replica score at the Stones current Grosvenor Vale home to move into the top six of Conference South. City, as joint-manager James Gray admitted after the game, seldom got above second gear but won in some comfort as Wealdstone remain in search of their first home win and stay rooted to the foot of the table. St Albans named an unchanged starting XI from the side that defeated Maidenhead United the previous week, while the Stones made one change from the side that won at Whitehawk in midweek with former Saint Ryan Watts coming into the back four in place of Jack Mills. The visitors started positively on a grey afternoon and deservedly picked up the three points but, generally, it was a low-key 90 minutes. In the openings minutes Sean Shields, John Frendo and James Comley all made attempts on the Wealdstone goal with varying degrees of accuracy. Wealdstone tested City with a couple of free kicks and corners floated into the penalty area by Watts and Luke Pigden, but the Saints dominance in the air ruled out any threat to Joe Welch’s goal. St Albans went close to grabbing a soft lead when former Wealdstone favourite Lee Chappell clipped a free kick into the penalty area and Steve Wales deft flick sent the ball just wide of Jonathan North’s goal. Just after the half hour a good move down the Stones led to Jonny Wright crossing to the near post where the ball broke off Tom Ward to Luke O’Nien whose point-blank effort was superbly blocked by the diving Welch. Wealdstone had a let off when a half cleared City corner saw Charlie Gorman drill the ball through a crowded penalty area only to be blocked close to goal by team-mate Comley. St Albans took the lead on 42 minutes with a goal that will cause Stones captain Sean Cronin a sleepless night or two. Welch caught a Pigden free kick and threw the ball out to the right to John Kyriacou who in turn exchanged passes with Shields before knocking it long down the flank. Cronin misjudged the bounce of the ball and allowed Frendo to seize possession behind him before the ball could roll out for a goal kick. The City striker then cut along the goal-line and from the tightest of angles slid his shot under North and into the net. In the few remaining minutes before the interval Ward flicked a Chappell throw-in across the face of the home goal while a clever scooped effort from 25 yards by Stones striker McGleish forced Welch to stretch high to his left to save with Cronin just unable to turn the loose ball goalwards. St Albans began the second half as they did the first, on the attack, with Frendo, following a through ball by Comley, bringing North into action inside the first minute, while a fine headed clearance by Hammond denied Shields a clear sight of goal following a cross by Wales. One of Wealdstone’s best moves of the game saw O’Nien and Wright work the ball through to Tom Hickey but Welch moved swiftly to save at the striker’s feet. The Stones spirit continued to rise as Wright came in from the right and shot just over the City goal. But, following that effort, genuine attempts on goal faded and neither side really appeared likely to make any addition to the score, although O’Nien came within a hairsbreadth of scoring from a free kick just outside the penalty area. Any hope Wealdstone held of saving the game surely vanished on 74 minutes when Lee Clarke scored his first goal for City in 27 games stretching back to September 2008. Comley picked up a loose ball that had deflected off Tom Hamblin and laid it inside to Wales. A quick return pass led to Comley drilling in a powerful angled drive that North could only parry into the path of Clarke who shot left-footed into the net despite a valiant attempt by Hammond to keep it out. Clarke, brought on to replace Shields, has spent most of the past six years in midfield but was sent on to play alongside Frendo, and revelled in being given an attacking position from which he scored 92 times during his first spell with the club. On 82 minutes former Northern Ireland U21 international Clarke caused more problems for the home side when Charlie Gorman’s low pass sent him into the penalty area where he won a spot kick following a shove by Hammond. After missing his previous penalty, Frendo admitted that he has put in extra practice since that blip and duly sent North the wrong way to celebrate his 49th league game with his 34th league goal for the Saints. The clearly ebullient Clarke, set up again by Comley, ought to have made it four but slid his cushioned shot just wide of the goal. It mattered not as the victory had already been secured. St Albans take a break from league action with two cup ties coming up during the next week. On Tuesday, 23rd September, the Saints travel to Bishop’s Stortford in a hastily arranged Herts Charity Cup semi final tie. Kick off at Woodside Park is at 7.45pm. Then on Sunday, 28th September, City begin their FA Cup campaign with a 2nd Round Qualifying tie away to fellow Conference South side Hayes & Yeading United. Hayes are currently ground-sharing with Maidenhead United and kick off at York Road is at 3pm. Wealdstone: J.North, J.Hammond, R.Watts, T.Hamblin, S.Cronin, E.Godfrey, J.Wright (V.Bola 81), L.Pigden (N.Ahamed 65), S.McGleish (M.Malcolm 66), T.Hickey, L.O’Nien, subs; J.Turner, S.Bihmouting. Booked: Hammond (45), North (83). St Albans City: J.Welch, J.Kyriacou, L.Chappell, J.Kaloczi, B.Martin (D.Locke 90), T.Ward, C.Gorman, J.Comley, J.Frendo, S.Shields (L.Clarke 63), S.Wales (D.Green 79), subs; L.Pires, J.Watson. Booked: Comley (39) Goals: 42 0-1 Frendo, 74 0-2 Clarke, 82 0-3 Frendo (p). Referee: Adrian Quelch (Reading). Attendance: 768. Link posted on SACFC website here: www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/teams/first-team/news-reports/2789-wealdstone-0-st-albans-city-3.html
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 22, 2014 6:42:26 GMT
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Post by EFMTFTV on Sept 22, 2014 7:06:18 GMT
Thanks, from a Stones fan still smarting after our capitulation yesterday. But we don't need sympathy and we also don't need a bunch of knobs turning up to gloat over our current predicament. I heard talk of a couple of your fans 'being assaulted' and if that's true it reflects very badly on this decent club. Perhaps somebody would like to provide further details? I'm not sure anyone was 'gloating', after all you walked the league last year and are only 11 games into this season, the doom and gloom there is a bit premature IMO I wasn't with the group that got assulted but I had been, I went straight into town after the game, but it seems a Wealdstone fan said to a player "chin up" or something similar and our supporter said the same so a group of 10 of them follwed them down the road and punched a 47yr old, a 20yr old and a 16yr old If people can't take banter then they shouldn't be at a football match I didn't hear the abuse shouted at Jonathan North, their keeper, but if it did happen that's pathetic. Beneath comment, really. North is wearing pink to raise awareness for a cancer charity, apparently. Just a quick one about the chant "this place is disgusting"... Hemel, now that's disgusting (dog poo, old chip wrappers, empty beer cans, junk behind the stand at one end on my last visit). Wealdstone, as a club has spent almost 25 years trying to recover after they had their old ground sold to a supermarket. They got ripped off by Watford, had to play at Yeading, Northwood and now have made a nice little home at Ruislip. Worth remembering that all non-league clubs are only two or three wrong turns away from oblivion. Dreary lecture over, sorry! . I'm never a fan of people chanting stuff like that at their keeper, it's 2014 people are gay, get over it and I doubt the keeper was, I wear pink it's a great colour, but some people are idiots. I don't think anyone who went up the high street beforehand could think the place was anything but disgusting, it's really a dull london suburbian suburb in all its glory
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Post by citycentresaint on Sept 22, 2014 8:54:09 GMT
Ok Tudor, no offence meant, merely an observation based on several visits to Vauxhall Road. I've never almost trod in dog poo at Clarence Park, although I'd agree the terraces could do with having the moss swept off them. Fair point about the admission price. Not sure you'd find too many Saints fans who think it's an appropriate price. Having said that, we've paid £10.71 per home league point so far this season, you've paid £25 per home league point so at the moment we're doing okay. Great stat Recent Convert. Also we don't make the ticket prices up as we go along like Hemel. Furthermore getting to the Hemel ground entails having to dodge the locals swigging from cans of Special Brew and teenage mums pushing round prams. However this is a thread about Wealdstone, so don't know why Hemel fans posting on it.
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Post by harpendenstone on Sept 22, 2014 13:33:35 GMT
Not heard of any trouble from our end (though if 10 adults following three and whacking them is true then I can understand it's not something to shout about) but.... We're proud of what we've achieved, as fans, at Grosvenor Vale and the 'banter' from your supporters was deliberately provocative. You know it, I know it. Your poster with Wealdstone friends has a good grasp of what we're about and what we've been through. You are rightly proud of the heritage and history of Clarence Park but you're telling me the facilities there are better than at the Vale? And if Ruislip Manor as a place is 'disgusting'... Well, you're obviously not very well travelled.
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Post by EFMTFTV on Sept 22, 2014 14:15:45 GMT
Well Sweeneys bar was a right dump The place was just dull
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Post by harpendenstone on Sept 22, 2014 15:01:51 GMT
surely a bit of 'banter' would have livened it up? the sort of braying would go down well in d'arcy's on a Saturday night? ('you look in in a dustbin for something to eat, you find some pate de foie gras and you think it's a treat, in your St Albans slums...')
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Post by westwalessaint on Sept 22, 2014 18:57:48 GMT
C'mon harpendenstone, get a life. Physical threats and actual bodily harm - now I call that serious. Homophobic chanting - I call that serious too. Taking the pi** cos your team hasn't had a good start - trivial. Personally I remember watching us play you in the 60's. I'm glad Wealdstone have a thriving club again and I actually hope you stay up. As for playing at Ruislip Manor's ground - good luck to you. Finally, we will continue to gloat when we're doing well and you lot aren't - as I'm sure you lot will when its tables turned. By the way...fois gras is only found in dustbins in Harpenden. Lol.
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 22, 2014 20:13:13 GMT
Dave Taveners view of the game:
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Post by harpendenstone on Sept 22, 2014 21:01:15 GMT
A lot of truth there, westwalessaint. Fact is that it hurts losing to a local rival, especially when they turn up in numbers. If you were around in the 60s you'll also remember how much Enfield were hated... That never really goes away, even now. But we're looking forward to the return game at your dilapidated ground and to making some noise, despite the absence of covered ends. Oh, and getting a life is what we're all doing by following our home town team, not being a plastic Prem fan!
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Post by westwalessaint on Sept 22, 2014 21:14:05 GMT
Totally agree with you too, harpendenstone. Good luck for the rest of the season. Hope you're well clear of the bottom two by the time we play you again......at our charming picturesque ground.
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Post by Saint on Sept 23, 2014 0:07:02 GMT
Just don't don't expect 3 points at Clarence Park, Harpenden Stone
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Post by Aries on Sept 23, 2014 9:11:58 GMT
A lot of truth there, westwalessaint. Fact is that it hurts losing to a local rival, especially when they turn up in numbers. If you were around in the 60s you'll also remember how much Enfield were hated... That never really goes away, even now. But we're looking forward to the return game at your dilapidated ground and to making some noise, despite the absence of covered ends. Oh, and getting a life is what we're all doing by following our home town team, not being a plastic Prem fan! Harpenden Stone here's some footage from your end of your stadium on Saturday. If you listen carefully you can hear your fans murmuring quietly and if you look carefully you may see one or two of your players touch the ball.
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Post by Boomer on Sept 23, 2014 13:47:04 GMT
Excellent video from WFC TV of yesterday's game What excellent as in the quality or as in showing it like Wealdstone dominated the game and were unlucky lol The former.
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Post by citycentresaint on Sept 23, 2014 18:12:25 GMT
I am hoping we put 6 past them at Clarence Park.
COYS
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 23, 2014 21:34:36 GMT
Excellent video from WFC TV of yesterday's game What excellent as in the quality or as in showing it like Wealdstone dominated the game and were unlucky lol The former. The twat Wealdstone reporter in the NLP thinks the latter
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Post by Saint on Sept 24, 2014 0:07:00 GMT
No swearing on here, please
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Post by Hatboy on Sept 25, 2014 16:47:26 GMT
Super sub Clarke was ‘game changer’ - Gray
Michael Edwards Lee Clarke drew praise from his manager after coming off the bench to inspire St Albans City to victory over Wealdstone on Saturday. The 31-year-old was introduced to the game in place of Sean Shields with half-an-hour remaining and gave the Saints’ attack a shot in the arm. He got his name on the scoresheet 11 minutes later and then won a penalty in the 82nd minute, which John Frendo dispatched to double his tally for the day. Speaking to Saintsnet after the game, joint manager James Gray said: “He changed the game for us. They were coming on to us a little bit at that stage - we were only 1-0 up - and I thought we could stretch them and pin them back by putting him up front. “I thought he was full of running, energetic, nicked a few things, got a goals and a penalty for us.” Opportunities for Clarke, who now has 93 goals for the club, have been limited but his ‘professionalism’ has shone through off the pitch and his ability has come to the fore on it when given his chance. “To come on a do that gives us food for thought and credit to him because he’s been waiting a while [for his chance],” said Gray. “[Playing up front is] not a one off or a long-term plan. If we need to change [something] then it’s a option.” www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/super_sub_clarke_was_game_changer_gray_1_3783255
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Post by harpendenstone on Sept 26, 2014 19:20:11 GMT
I am hoping we put 6 past them at Clarence Park. COYS I'd have a tenner with you that Wealdstone will be above St Albans in the table by that time. That six-goal win might just get you within a few points of us. Don't forget to bump this to the top of the thread by the time that game comes around.
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