City architects of own downfall in Saints loss

Two own goals and stoppage time penalty miss contributed to City suffering a defeat against St Albans City at Clarence Road this afternoon. Luke Russe’s first goal for the Romans had given them a half-time lead but three goals in ten second half minutes put the hosts firmly in control. Sol Wanjau-Smith pulled a goal back and when Jordan Alves was tugged back in the area in stoppage time City looked to have rescued a point. However, Scott Wilson saw his penalty saved by Johnson.

Three times in the opening half-hour Harvey Wiles-Richards produced excellent stops as the Saints began the game strongly. He tipped Charles’ volley over the bar on 15 minutes then three minutes later pushed James’ shot away for a corner. The best save came from Charles’ close-range header that he got down brilliantly to keep out. City’s best chance up to then had seen Wilson get free down the right only for Johnson to block his shot. He could do nothing to prevent City taking the lead on 38 minutes when Joe Raynes’ perfect cross was headed home from a couple of yards out by a stooping Russe.

The second half began with St Albans continuing on the front foot and just past the hour Jeffers levelled from a right wing cross. Three minutes later Lench tried his luck from 25 yards and found the net via the head of Kieran Parselle. It got worse for City on 72 minutes when Danny Greenslade’s misplaced back-pass ended up wrong-footing Wiles-Richards and rolling into the net. Within three minutes Wanjau-Smith made it 3-2 with a sweetly struck shot from 20 yards. And midway through the additional six minutes Alves was held back in the box to give Wilson the chance to level the scores. Instead it was the Saints celebrating as Johnson dived to his right to keep the penalty out and secure their first home win of the season.