ST ALBANS CITY 0 PETERBOROUGH UNITED 4 (Ben Wright 14, 37p, 53, Billy Crook 68) James Ronayne at Clarence Park CITY came up against a strong Peterborough United side in their first pre-season friendly, with Ben Wright s hat-trick helping the visitors to

ST ALBANS CITY 0

PETERBOROUGH UNITED 4 (Ben Wright 14, 37p, 53, Billy Crook 68)

James Ronayne at Clarence Park

CITY came up against a strong Peterborough United side in their first pre-season friendly, with Ben Wright's hat-trick helping the visitors to a 4-0 win.

After a tough summer off the field, most were relieved to be back concentrating on football and City were able to field a majority of last season's first team squad.

Luke Thurlbourne's presence in midfield was a welcome sight for the City fans, with his brother Jamie one of five trialists in the starting line-up.

Injury and illness meant that former Saint Craig Mackail-Smith, George, Boyd, Aaron McLean and manager Darren Ferguson all missed the game.

The first half was largely one-way traffic as Peterborough laid siege to the City goal. The visitors should have had the lead as early as the ninth minute as Posh debutant Tam Diagouraga slipped in Sergio Torres who rounded Paul Bastock but shot wastefully into the side netting.

The large away support didn't have to wait long for the opener though as five minutes later Wright latched onto Torres' centre to rifle the ball home from close range.

Bastock was kept busy in the City goal producing a couple of decent saves to deny the Posh attackers.

City's best effort came from former Cambridge United and Braintree midfielder Darren Quinton whose 25 yard effort was spilled round the post by Peterborough goalkeeper James McKeown.

Quinton looked lively down the City right and from his corner Gary Cohen headed wide when he was well placed.

The visitors added their second goal eight minutes before the interval with Wright firing past Bastock from the penalty spot after the 'keeper had felled the striker.

Peterborough's last chance of the half fell to Rene Howe, who raced past Ryan Frater only to see his shot crash off the post.

As is usual with pre-season friendlies there were a raft of substitutions made by both sides at half-time.

Wright completed his hat-trick in the 53rd minute with a venomous finish at the far post following Dominic Green's cross.

Half-time substitute Scott Rendell wasted numerous chances for the visitors but with more changes made throughout the second half the rhythm of the game became disjointed.

Posh added one last goal in the 68th minute when Billy Crook pounced to hook the ball home after Bastock had done well to tip the initial effort onto the bar.

Wright and Rendell both had further chances but were unable to convert for the away side.

St Albans City (4-4-2): Bastock; Bailey, Barnes, Frater (c), J.Thurlbourne; Quinton, L.Thurlbourne, Quilter, Edgerley; Roberts, Cohen. Subs used: S.Martin, Chillingworth, Fisher, Jones, Effiong, Davti, Maxwell, Kane.

Peterborough United (4-4-2): McKeown; Lee, Charnock, Gaughran, Williams (c); Torres, Coutts, Diagouraga, Rowe; Howe, Wright.

Peterborough second half (4-4-2): McKeown; Martin, Lee, Gaughran, Day; Crook, Frecklington, Keates, Green; Rendell, Wright.