Weymouth 0 St Albans City 2 (Martin Slocombe OG 40, Solomon Shields 62) James Ronayne at the Wessex Stadium ST ALBANS City picked up their first away win of the season as they comfortably beat basement side Weymouth. An own goal from Martin Slocombe and

Weymouth 0

St Albans City 2 (Martin Slocombe OG 40, Solomon Shields 62)

James Ronayne at the Wessex Stadium

ST ALBANS City picked up their first away win of the season as they comfortably beat basement side Weymouth.

An own goal from Martin Slocombe and a lovely strike from the outstanding Solomon Shields gave City all three points against a young Weymouth side clearly short on confidence.

The first goal clearly gave City confidence and the performance was based on a solid performance at the heart of the defence from Mark Peters.

City's first real chance of note fell to Cohen. The pacy attacker had won the corner following a good run down the right and from David Galbraith's set play Cohen rose highest but flashed his header across the face of the goal.

Sixteen minutes in, a cross from the right from Andy Harris caused panic in the City backline and James Quilter had to clear over his own bar. The home side weren't able to capitalise though as the corner was poor and Adam Everitt was able to clear at the near post.

Weymouth looked to have found a way through when Jake Reid found himself one-on-one with Peters but City's veteran defender used all his experience to extinguish the danger.

A long clearance out by Peters was miss controlled by Harris and Daniel Chillingworth tried an audacious lob from 35 yards that went safely over the bar.

A poor pass by Frater was pounced on by Joe Arnold who slipped the ball to Reid, who in turn fed the ball wide to Chris Allen, whose cross was headed tamely wide by Arnold.

City opened the scoring five minutes before the break. Galbraith played a clever ball down the left to Roberts who'd timed his run perfectly. He advanced towards the byline and fired a ball across the face of goal that Slocombe turned into his own net under pressure from Cohen.

A long ball upfield by Galbraith was only half cleared by Terras' captain Kyle Critchell but Chillingworth's right foot volley from 20 yards went high and wide.

The first real chance of the second half went the way of the hosts as Reid saw his effort from the edge of the area blocked by Peters.

A great cross from Everitt found Cohen 10 yards out but the striker's effort landed on the roof of the net.

A neat interchanging of passes between Shields and Roberts created an opening for Chillingworth but the 28-year-old drilled his shot wide.

City doubled their lead in the 62nd minute with a lovely goal. Peters knocked the ball up the right wing for Cohen who skilfully lifted the ball over Critchell's head. The former Grimsby man looked up and rolled the ball to Shields on the edge of the area who drilled the ball low into the corner of the net.

With City in control Steve Castle took the opportunity to give Jonathan O'Donnell his debut, the young midfielder coming on in place of Galbraith.

A miscued shot from Roberts saw the striker go down in a heap on the edge of the area and, after a short spell of treatment from physio Zac Chandler, he left the field of play on a stretcher, being replaced by Alex Bailey.

Frater conceded a free kick on the left hand side and, from the resulting set play by Slocombe, substitute Jordan Rose headed over the bar.

City continued to push for a third goal and came close through Chillingworth. The excellent Shields brought the ball out of defence before releasing Chillingworth on the right. The striker cut inside the defender and unleashed a low drive that keeper Ryan Harrison diverted around the post.

With time running out City also gave a debut to Godfrey Poku.

Because of injuries to Roberts and Weymouth's Critchell there were seven minutes added time. The home side cam close to reducing the deficit when Matt Cooper capitalised on a slip by Frater and got in a shot but Bastock stuck out a boot and deflected the ball wide of the far post.

Shortly afterwards referee Andy Newell blew for full time to give City their first points on the road and condemned the home side to their fifth home defeat of the campaign.

Weymouth (4-4-2): Harrison; Harris, Critchell (Townley 84), Brice, Slocombe; Allen (Rose 72), Hutchinson, Smith, Caton; Arnold (Cooper 65), Reid.

Subs: Hale, Evans.

St Albans City (4-4-2): Bastock; Quilter, Frater, Peters, Everitt; Cohen, Shields, L Thurlbourne, Galbraith (O'Donnell 71); Roberts (Bailey 79), Chillingworth (Poku 89).

Subs: Mortimer, Poku, Clayton.

Referee: Andy Newell (Bristol)

Att: 645

Man of the Match: Solomon Shields