National League Paper – Hampton & Richmond Borough FC 0–2 St Albans City 5.12.20
Referee: Callum Walchester
Star Man – Solomon Nwabuokei
Entertainment rating – 3/5
Hampton (4141) Julian 6, Cox 7, Inman 6, Anderson 7 (Smith ’77), Farrell 6, Miller-Rodney 7, Gondoh 6, Deadfield 6, Gray 6, Donaldson 7 (Fisher ‘70), Minhas 6 (Carvalho ’16)
St Albans (451) Johnson 7, Bender 7, Wiltshire 7, Kaloczi 7, Clark 7, Nwabuckei 8, Jeffers 7, Banton 8 (Warner-Eley ’90) , Weiss 8 (Noble ’79), Sundire 7 (Devante ’90), Mukena 7
By Ciaran ONeill
ST ALBANS UNBEATEN AS BEAVERS WELCOME BACK HOME FANS
Two goals minutes before the halftime and fulltime whistles gift St Albans City the three points on a cold Saturday afternoon at the Chris Sweet Beveree Stadium.
After a bright start, Hampton thought they had taken the lead 30 minutes into the first half. Substitute Wilson Carvalho found himself through on goal, but his pass was judged to be met by an offside Ruaridh Donaldson, who steered the ball across the line.
The away side broke the deadlock right on the cusp of halftime. A cleared freekick found Zane Banton on the edge of the box, who delivered a beautiful chipped through ball into Mitchell Weiss, who’s smart control and finish found the back of the net.
The provider and scorer for St Albans combined again early into the second half. Banton found enough room in the box to force a fumble in the box, but Weiss’ close range effort was brilliantly saved by Alan Julian.
The Beavers’ best chance of the second half came through Ryan Gondoh. Hamptons’ number 14 cut past two St Albans defenders inside the box before firing off a low driven shot, but Michael Johnson was equal to the shot and saved smartly to his left hand side.
With seconds left of injury time, St Albans pushed forward one last time, with Solomon Nwabuokei deflected shot bouncing off the post and into the back of the net.
STATS
HRBFC: Shots on – 4 Shots off – 4 Corners – 5 Free kicks conceded – 12 Offsides – 2 Yellows – 0 Reds – 0
St Albans: Shots on – 5 Shots off – 1 Corners – 5 Free kicks conceded – 13 Offsides- 1 Yellows – 1 Reds – 0
