City and Lewes share goalless draw

Blue Square Bet South

St Albans City 0 Lewes 0

ST ALBANS City slipped back into the bottom three of the Blue Square Bet South table after a dismal goalless draw with basement side Lewes.

The closest either side came to a winner was Adam Everitt’s late header but the City defender was denied by a splendid reflex save by visiting goalkeeper Chris Winterton.

City were again without the services of Ollie Palmer and Pelayo Gomez and they also had to do without Ben Martin who missed the game with a sore knee. David Galbraith and Sean Shields came in for Martin and Matt Hocking while Dom Petrucci continued to deputise up front.

Tom Murphy is Lewes’ leading scorer this season with five goals and the forward had the best openings for the away side. First the former Gillingham man got in behind the City defence but Everitt recovered to block the youngster’s shot and then Paul Bastock had to pounce on a loose ball in front of the striker after the ‘keeper had parried Ishmael Welsh’s cross.

For the Saints, Inih Effiong went close to grabbing his 10th goal of the campaign, turning his marker Callum Davies but finding Winterton equal to his shot as the sides entered the break locked level.

The action failed to improve after the break despite both sides making changes.

Rory Hill fired straight at Bastock from 35 yards and Chris Breach headed over the bar from Ben Godfrey’s free kick while City failed to break through a resolute visiting defence.

As the game meandered towards its conclusion, referee Neil Hair showed Lewes left-back Nathan Green a straight red card for a challenge on Adam Martin.

From the resulting free kick James Fisher found Everitt but Winterton’s superb save ensured it was a point apiece for the sides.

City: Bastock; Fisher, Frater, Everitt, Smith; Sean Shields, Deeney (Sol Shields 64), A. Martin, Galbraith (Hocking 60); Petrucci (Peters 64), Effiong.

Sub not used: Magwood.

Lewes: Winterton; Hall, Breach, Davies, Green; Wheeler, Wright, Hill, Welsh (Godfrey 46); Baker (Crellin 46), Murphy (Porter 81).

Subs not used: Barness, Dossou.

Referee: Neil Hair (Peterborough)

Att: 338.