St Albans City survive bus problems to draw at Chippenham

Aidan Dausch was on target again for St Albans City. Picture: JIM STANDEN <i>(Image: Jim Standen)</i>
Aidan Dausch was on target again for St Albans City. Picture: JIM STANDEN (Image: Jim Standen)
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St Albans City had to contend with problems on the road before even getting to Chippenham Town - yet they almost came away with all three points.

The National League South game was delayed by 30 minutes due to City's late arrival but a goal from Aidan Dausch on 65 minutes seemed to have given them a valuable success in their battle to avoid the drop.

However, the hosts were able to grab an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time to leave it tied 1-1.

However, given the bus journey they had, manager Ian Culverhouse was still a proud man.

St Albans City manager Ian Culverhouse.Picture: PETER SHORTSt Albans City manager Ian Culverhouse.Picture: PETER SHORT (Image: Peter Short)

"It probably was [a fair result]," he said, "but after the coach journey we had, we were stuck in a farmer's field at one point and the farmer didn't want us to turn around.

"It was chaos.

"[It seemed like] we'd been on the coach for 19 hours and only had about a 10-minute warm up but full credit to this group. They really are giving it their all.

"They are gutted in the dressing room but it shows how far we've come in a short space of time.

"We've played a team who are doing really well and playing some really expansive football and we've competed against them.

"We're disappointed with a draw."

The boss was also delighted with his scorer, as well as attacking companions.

Culverhouse said: "[Aidan's] movement was good and I thought him and Shaun worked really well across that front line and Zane in behind showed some good movement as well.

"The pitch isn't the best to play on but he took his goal really well and it gave the team a lift."

However, what is becoming a unwelcome habit is conceding goals from set-pieces and Jac Poffley's unmarked header at the back post was another example of it.

Culverhouse said cooler heads were needed.

He said: "We're giving them [men to mark] but when they throw players on late, sometimes it gets lost in the chaos [who should be marking who].

"You need calm heads to say 'you mark him and I'll mark him'. It's the little fundamentals on the game that we need to be better on.

"But I'm pleased with them for the performance and gutted we didn't see it out. There's plenty more positives than negatives though."

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