Hemel Hempstead Town 2 St Albans City 2 James Ronayne at Vauxhall Road ST ALBANS City failed to match Thursday s super performance against Leyton Orient as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hemel Hempstead. Understandably the Saints players looked leggy a

Hemel Hempstead Town 2

St Albans City 2

James Ronayne at Vauxhall Road

ST ALBANS City failed to match Thursday's super performance against Leyton Orient as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hemel Hempstead.

Understandably the Saints players looked leggy and despite twice taking the lead they were pegged back by a resilient Hemel side.

The first chance of the game fell to Darren Quinton with his well hit volley not far off target. City had a scare in the 14th minute when Jason Mitchell lost the ball to Davis Haule on the edge of the area who laid the ball off to Lewis Hilliard but the midfielder's shot was wide of the target.

Paul Bastock was called in to action six minutes later, pulling off a good save to deny St Hillaire after the Hemel winger wriggled free at the far post.

A Quinton free kick from the left found Drew Roberts free at the far post and, although the former Hemel man's header caused goalkeeper Mike McEntegart problems, the ball landed on the roof of the net.

Solomon Shields made a great break in the middle of the park and although O'Donoghue did well to chest down the midfielder's cross his volley went well over the bar.

Hilliard picked up the ball in his own half and went on a good run but the midfielder's effort went wide of the post.

City opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Green's cross found Roberts on the edge of the area and he forced the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Quinton nearly doubled City's lead with a clever piece of thinking. The midfielder picked up the ball on the edge of the area and, with the 'keeper out of position, hit a shot that looked destined for the bottom corner only for McEntegart to recover and push it out.

Hemel drew level shortly after the break. Jason Mitchell fouled a Hemel player in the box and Hilliard sent the resulting penalty into the bottom right hand corner of Bastock's net.

Hemel were level for all of five minutes as City upped the tempo.

Danny Green got free on the left hand side and delivered a cross for Roberts. The striker kept the ball in and laid it back for Shields who fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

City would have had a third minutes later when Frater met a right wing corner but a Hemel defender recovered to clear off the line.

Roberts had a shot that was blocked but the ball fell for Shields who arched a shot that was deflected narrowly wide.

Four minutes from time Hemel grabbed an equaliser. Shields lost possession in the middle of the park and Matthew Kimani took advantage rifling the ball home from 20 yards out.

Hemel Hempstead Town (4-4-2): Mike McEntegart; McGuiness, Higgins, Matthew McEntegart (c), Medine; Bernard, Hilliard, Bonnett-Johnson, St. Hillaire; Haule, Browne.

Subs: Kimani, Kamara, Shittu, Peagram, Gilbert.

St Albans City (4-4-2): Bastock; Sulaiman, Mitchell, Frater (c), Everitt; Quinton (Hunt 50), Shields, Fisher, Green (Miller 61); O'Donoghue, Roberts.

Subs: Miller, J.Thurlbourne, Mortimer, O'Donnell, Hunt, Emery.