Thurrock (A) 14th August.

[Saint]

Blue Square Bet South Matchday 1 - Thurrock v St. Albans City, Saturday 14th August 2010 15:00

No images allowed -http://www.bluesqsouth.com/Images/bluesqprem/bsq-south-top.gif

No images allowed -http://confsouth.co.uk/news/thurrock.jpg v No images allowed -http://confsouth.co.uk/news/stalbans.jpg

Ship Lane, Thurrock
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It's nearly time people! That's right, the big Blue Square Bet South (It doesn't sound right does it? No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/warning2.gif ) Kick-off is nearly upon us, just two days to go.

The Saints start the 2010/2011 season away at Thurrock, where last season the reult ended in a 0-0 draw, while in the reverse fixture at Clarence Park, City managed to take the points with a 1-0 win.

Thurrock finished in 10th place last season with a points total of 61, 6 more then the Saints.
During the close-season, Thurrock managed to keep hold to a majority of thier squad and have added striker Cliff Akurang to the team.

Here are Castle's thoughts on Saturday's opponents, Thurrock "“They’ve got the same group of players and are very strong and very direct, They don’t mess around in their own half either but we did well against them and took four from a possible six points."

Meanwhile, despite budget cuts and rumours on and off the pitch of trouble at Clarence Park, the Saints have managed to keep hold on manager Steve Castle and the majority of the squad from last season, the size of the squad is currently 21 and more signings can be expected. Even today, 5 players have been signed for the club including; Ben Martin, Hassan Sulaiman and three youth players which are sure to please the Saints faithfull.

Kick off is 3pm at Thurrock's Ship Lane ground, admission prices are: Adults £12, Concessions (Students+Oap's) £7 and children under 15 £3.

So, can the Saints get a good start to the season/ Will a draw be good enough? Or will we see a bad defeat for the mighty Saints? Posts your thoughts below and lets hope we get the right result!

So get your Vuvuzela's out and lets cheer on the lads! No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/yuyuyuyu-1.gif

COYS. No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/gialloblu.gif No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/COYS.png No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/COYS2.png

[Daedalus]

Good preview Saint. No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/thup.gif

Not sure about getting the vuvuzelas out though. No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/clapsarcastic.gif

Always difficult to predict the opening match of the season but with us staying quite consistent in terms of personnel over the summer, I'd expect a good performance to start the season.

I'm going for a 0-0 draw - same as last season. What's your prediction Saint?

[Saint]

I think we can at least get a point, but last time I predicted a result, was the opening fixture of last season! Where we lost 3-0, I predicted we would win 3-0.

No point in listening to me when prediciting results!

[Daedalus]

Added some pictures to the top of your opening post Saint. Hope you like!

COYS! No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/gialloblu.gif

[Saint]

It looks nice D, good work.

COYS.

[COYS]

I'm going for a 1-0 win today, relying on our solid defence to hold firm, while nicking a goal in the first half and hanging on to it.

[COYS]

Updates from this afternoon's game will be available from the Herts Advertiser's Twitter page here: twitter.com/hertsadsport

[COYS]

HALF TIME SCORE

Thurrock 0-0 Saints

[Daedalus]

Today's line-up in full:

Starting XI (4-4-2 from right-to-left) - Bastock; Deeney, Martin B., Everitt, Smith; Sulaiman, Magwood, Fisher, Martin R; Effiong, Roberts.

On the bench - Peters, Simpson, Sullivan, Urquhart, Kwemi.

[Daedalus]

My source at the game says that we are battling well and have had the better of it in the first-half.

[Daedalus]

Saints 2-0 up now.

Roberts 49, Effiong 53.

What goalscoring problem?

[Daedalus]

Nervous times ahead. Akurang pulls one back for Thurrock.

Saints lead 2-1.

[Daedalus]

We've blown our lead. Akurang again with a 73rd min penalty.

Now 2-2.

[Daedalus]

FT: 2-2.

A good point and we wouldn't have been too disappointed to have come away with that before the match but after being 2-0 up, it's a shame we didn't get more.

Off to a decent start though. Looking forward to our first home game now.

[Daedalus]

My source at the game said that it was a good performance today but that we really ought to have been clear before they pulled one back. He said we could have been four up at one point.

The team worked hard all game. Hard to pick out a man of the match but there were honourable mentions for Smith, Everitt, Ben Martin, Sulaiman and Effiong.

It was apparently a game we should have won easily but in the end could have lost.

[yourthurrock]

First goal for St Albans and the Thurrock penalty on our site.

www.yourthurrock.com/2010/08/14/thurrock-0-v-2-st-albans-city/

[bovysaint]

Promising start to the new season - well done lads

[COYS]

In my opinion, certainly a point gained away from home rather than two points lost. Sounds like a great performance and now can't wait for Tuesday.

[Daedalus]

Me too COYS. Really looking forward to seeing us play on Tuesday now.