City boss frustrated after Woking defeat

ST ALBANS City boss Steve Castle was left to lament a lack of quality from his side on Saturday as they slipped to their second successive defeat, losing 1-0 at home to Woking.

The visitors completely bossed the first 45 minutes at Clarence Park and it was only their profligacy in front of goal that meant it was just Ricky Anane’s strike that separated the two sides.

Although City improved after the break it was Graham Baker’s Cards that continued to manufacture the best chances leaving Castle a frustrated man come fulltime.

“First half, they (Woking) were the better team, we evened it up but our inability to score goals and create chances and our quality is nonexistent at the moment even from set plays,” said Castle. “We’re never going to score goals.”

“Fair play to Woking, they’ve come and got themselves in front and we’ve never really threatened.

“From good players it’s a complete lack of quality, whether it be from a set play or whether it be a ball that’s got to go into an area. Every team that we seem to play against doesn’t have that problem. It gets in an area, it gets put into the right area and it gets attacked and we don’t. We’re really going to struggle for goals unless things don’t get addressed.”

Castle gave a debut to French striker Jean-Michel Sigere on Saturday and despite the former Stevenage and Rushden & Diamonds striker’s arrival the City boss says he is still in the market for another striker.

“There’s always the flip side when you bring in an experienced player which is how fit they are and how much legs they’ve got and you’re trying to get that balance,” explained Castle.

“I don’t want to disrespect anything that Inih Effiong’s done, he’s done really well and we keep saying he’s going to have peaks and troughs and he is going to go up and down in form but if he can learn of the likes of Sigere and maybe if we can get another experienced player in, it is time that he’s got to learn now.”

Asked if he’s likely to bring anyone in before City travel to unbeaten league leaders Bromley on Saturday, Castle said: “I’d like to think so but we’ll have to wait and see. I can’t say at the moment because there is nothing concrete but I’m hopeful that we could maybe get someone and it’s no secret it’s likely to be up front.”