NOW a hefty 15 points from safety, time is running out for St Albans City to avoid slipping out of Blue Square Bet South.

If Steve Castle’s side are to perform the great escape they need to start winning immediately starting with Saturday’s visit of Staines Town.

ADDRESS: Clarence Park, York Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4PL

Tel: 01727 864296

THE LOWDOWN: After last season’s brush with the play-offs Staines have had to be content with floating in mid-table this season.

Established figures at the club, such as Gareth Risbridger and Ali Chaaban, have moved to pastures new signalling a time of rebuilding at the Middlesex club.

The Swans are currently without a win in their last five league games and the last time they posted three points was on February 12 with a 1-0 win over Bromley.

Staines’ biggest victory this season came with an impressive 4-1 defeat of Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium back in November while their biggest defeat saw them sink to a 4-0 loss at Welling United.

THE MANAGER: Steve Cordrey has been in charge at Wheatsheaf Park since May 2003.

He enjoyed a playing career with Egham Town, Hates, Windsor & Eton, Maidenhead United, and Yeading where he was part of the FA Vase winning side before stepping into management with the club.

After Yeading, Cordrey moved to Hampton and then Aylesbury United leading the club to the FA Trophy semi finals.

Since joining Staines Cordrey has led the club to back-to-back second place finishes in the Ryman Premier Division leading to promotion to Conference South for the 2009/10 season.

THE SQUAD: Louis Wells has been a mainstay in the Staines Town goal having joined the club from Uxbridge in 2008.

The former Aldershot stopper played a vital role in the club’s promotion to Conference South saving a late penalty in the final and was an ever present in last season Conference South campaign.

Right-back Simon Jackson is an experienced campaigner in non-league football, making his break at nearby Woking where he made 85 appearances including the 2007 FA Trophy Final against Grays Athletic.

Jackson has also won international honours representing the England C side in a game against their Italian counterparts.

Skipper Danny Gordon is another who has risen up from the Ryman Premier Division with the club after joining from Aylesbury United. A former Player of the Year at the club, Gordon has made over 200 appearances for the Swans.

Richard Orlu has stepped into the hole left in the heart of the Swans’ defence by Yado Mambo’s recall by Charlton Athletic. Orlu has been a consistent performer for the club’s reserve team, often captaining the side, and has also gained experience from loan spells at Harrow Borough and Walton Casuals.

Left-back Rene Steer is in his first season at Wheatsheaf Park after dropping into non-league football. The former Arsenal academy man has also had spells at Oldham and Gillingham before joining Staines in the summer.

Winger Andre Scarlett originally joined Staines in December 2005 upon his release from Chesham. A tricky winger who started out at Luton Town Scarlett has been a key figure in recent seasons for the Swans.

In the centre of the park Darty Brown has been a consistent performer for the Swans having joined the club from Maidenhead United in 2008.

Dwane Lee is a new face at Staines Town having signed for the club in February this year. The former Barnet, Stevenage and Windsor & Eton man has represented Grenada at international level and helped Barnet into the Football League.

Providing the width on the other flank is likely to be Warren Harris. The 20-year-old former Spurs junior joined Staines from neighbours Ashford Town (Middx) after impressing in pre-season.

Another option in midfield for boss Cordrey is Howard Newton who returned to the club after a spell in New Zealand. A Guyana international, Newton has featured on the bench for the Swans in recent weeks despite also turning out for Bromley in one game.

Experienced striker Scott Taylor has led the Swans’ frontline this season having returned to the club following an extensive career in the Football League.

Millwall, Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Blackpool, MK Dons and Tranmere are just a few of the names to feature on Taylor’s CV with Bolton splashing out �150,000 for his services.

Taylor secured his name in Staines’ folklore by netting the goal the earned the club promotion to Conference South.

Roscoe D’Sane is another new face at Staines following his transfer from AFC Wimbledon. The striker, who made his name with his goalscoring exploits at Aldershot Town, had been training with the Dons as he looked to overcome injury but joined Staines at the start of the month.

LAST TIME: Ollie Palmer’s debut goal set the Saints on the road to a 3-1 victory when the two sides met in the FA Trophy back in November.

Palmer’s 11th minute strike was followed up by goals from Adam Everitt and Mark Peters as City recorded their first victory in nine games with Elliot Onochie’s goal 11 minutes from time the only blemish on City’s afternoon.

City also turned in an excellent first half performance when they travelled to Wheatsheaf Park back in August. Goals from James Fisher and Inih Effiong gave the Saints a commanding half-time lead but the Swans hit back with goals from Marc Charles-Smith and Leroy Griffiths.

REFEREE (subject to change): S P Butler assisted by G D Ions & S Finnigan

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