1st Team v St Albans City

No. 28    Tuesday 9th December 2014.     Herts Senior Cup  – Round 2
Kings Langley                       0
St Albans City                       2 (Frendo 12, 88)  
REPORT BY ST ALBANS CITY F C
A goal in each half for John Frendo at a rainswept Gaywood Park saw Conference South team St Albans City progress to the next round of the Herts Senior Cup at the expense of a highly impressive Kings Langley. It was his ruthlessness in front of goal that was the difference between the two sides, otherwise the Saints could well have returned home with their tails between their legs. Former City boss Ritchie Hanlon and Paul Hughes have got their young side playing a slick passing game and their position at the top of the Spartan South Midlands Premier League appears fully justified on the evidence of this game. The playing conditions were quite appalling, as a strong wind blew the rain, which grew in intensity during half time, straight down the pitch towards one goal. St Albans played with the elements to their backs for the opening 45 minutes and in fielding a strong starting XI would probably have expected to have put the game beyond Kings Langley's reach by the interval.
The omens looked good for City early on, as a swift exchange between Frendo, Sam Corcoran and Cameron Lancaster ended with Frendo having a cleanly struck right-footed volley well saved by home keeper Anthony Ladyman. And matters looked really promising for City on 12 minutes when James Comley, after a long run through the middle of the pitch, slid a pass through to the free Frendo who fired the opening goal through the legs of the exposed Ladyman. But City failed to press home their early advantage and seemed content to play far too many back passes, some of which went astray in the wild conditions and offered the home side a route back into the game as they made light of the adverse conditions and created several reasonable openings. Mitchell Weiss had a shot comfortably gathered by Tom Coulton, and Jack Johnson flashed an effort across the face of the goal before a good run and cross by Callum Adebiyi almost led to Omar Beckles putting through his own goal. City hit back with possibly their best move of the game that ended with Lancaster slipping a good ball through the home defence to Steve Wales. His chipped pass to the back post found the advancing Frendo but Danny Hutchins did well to clear from the goal line.
The half time interval allowed the players some respite from the weather, but they returned after the break to find that the wind and rain had both gained strength and were battering the goal that St Albans now had to defend. The home side continued to enjoy a good amount of possession throughout the remainder of the game but St Albans stronger physical presence meant that Coulton received ample protection. A clever back-heel by Lancaster looked to have put Frendo through but a superbly timed tackle by Connor Toomey cleared the danger. A swift counter-attack saw Johnson whip a dangerous ball into the goalmouth that Coulton needed two goes at collecting, while Lee Burgoyne ended a powerful run with another shot across the face of the goal and wide. Burgoyne had two further attempts on goal but Coulton’s handling remained reliable in the difficult conditions. City gave First team experience to teenagers Jack Green and Alex Yearwood during the final 20 minutes, and two minutes from time Yearwood put his stamp on the game when Frendo controlled his cross from the left and stretched to roll the ball past Ladyman for the second goal.