St Albans City 1 (Jamie Thurlbourne 73) Staines Town 3 (Leroy Griffiths 5p, Howard Newton 30, Chris Bourne 37) James Ronayne at Clarence Park ST ALBANS City slipped to 18th in the Blue Square South table after another defeat, this time a 3-1 loss agains

St Albans City 1 (Jamie Thurlbourne 73)

Staines Town 3 (Leroy Griffiths 5p, Howard Newton 30, Chris Bourne 37)

James Ronayne at Clarence Park

ST ALBANS City slipped to 18th in the Blue Square South table after another defeat, this time a 3-1 loss against an energetic Staines Town side.

A disastrous start, which saw City concede a penalty in just four minutes, meant that they were always going to be up against it and two exquisite finishes from Howard Newton and Chris Bourne put the game beyond doubt. Jamie Thurlbourne's clever free kick reduced the deficit for City but again they failed to really test Louis Wells' in the Staines goal, even after they'd had Leroy Griffiths' dismissed for clattering into James Fisher.

City actually started brightly with Gary Cohen firing over the bar and David Galbraith showing, that when he gets his fitness levels up he could be a major asset to the side.

However City's bright start was undone when Staines were awarded a penalty four minutes in.

A cross from the right seemed to be overhit but Adam Everitt handled a cross and referee Ian Crouch after consulting his linesman awarded the spot kick. Griffiths stepped up and confidently scored from the spot.

Griffiths was causing the City back line trouble and Steve Castle's men could have found themselves further behind when the Staines front man got in behind Everitt and rounded Paul Bastock but thankfully Alex Bailey was on hand to mop up and remove the danger.

A long kick by Wells wasn't dealt with by Bailey but Richard Butler fired over the bar from an acute angle.

With half an hour gone Staines did double their lead. City failed to clear a corner adequately and from the resulting cross Howard Newton fired the ball in on the volley beating Bastock via the post.

City's night went from bad to worse as Staines added a beautiful third goal from Chris Bourne. A sublime pass from Andre Scarlett got Bourne in behind Bailey and the winger looped the ball over Bastock and into the far corner of the net.

The second half went flat as Staines sat back content with the lead they'd built.

City came close to reducing the deficit when Hakim latched onto a Peters' header but his strike crashed off the post.

City did pull a goal back in the 73rd minute when substitute Jamie Thurlbourne cleverly curled a free kick inside Louis Wells' right hand post.

Staines were reduced to 10 men when Grifiths was shown a straight red for taking Fisher out. Referee Crouch immediately dished out the red card to Griffiths and it was to be Fisher's last involvement in the game. Fisher was set to go to hospital to have stitches for a mouth wound and was replaced by Craig Calver.

City were unable to capitalise on their additional man despite another free kick from Jamie Thurlbourne causing havoc in the Staines defence. The ball was fizzed in from the right but was inches in front of the three on-rushing attackers before bouncing off Wells' chest and being cleared by the Swans' defence.

St Albans City (4-4-2): Bastock; Bailey (Quilter 82), Peters, Frater, Everitt; Roberts, Fisher (Calver 82), L. Thurlbourne, Galbraith (J.Thurlbourne 65); Cohen, Hakim.

Subs: Chillingworth, Quinton.

Staines Town (4-4-2): Wells; Jackson, Gordon, Ifura, Sterling; Newton, Risbridger, Scarlett, Bourne (Thomas 90); Butler (Charles-Smith 84), Griffiths.

Subs: Taylor, Kamara, Onochie.

Referee: Ian Crouch (Orpington)

Att: 304

Man of the Match: Luke Thurlbourne