Maidenhead United v St Albans City Saturday, December 26 – 3pm KO Season so far: Maidenhead United, like City have suffered from the financial downturn, and as a result lost several key players over the summer. This resulted in a slow start to the curren

Maidenhead United v St Albans City

Saturday, December 26 - 3pm KO

Season so far: Maidenhead United, like City have suffered from the financial downturn, and as a result lost several key players over the summer.

This resulted in a slow start to the current campaign with the Magpies recording four draws and four defeats in their first eight games of the season.

A 2-0 win at Welling gave Johnson Hippolyte's side their first three points of the season and was followed up with a 1-1 draw at Woking.

The Magpies then went on a four game winning run that saw them climb from 15th to ninth in the Blue Square South table but since then they've only recorded one win in their last seven games and have lost influential midfielder Will Hendry to AFC Wimbledon.

Last meeting: Goals from Ashley Nicholls and Mustafa Tiryaki were enough to give Maidenhead a 2-1 win over City at Clarence Park and the Saints' last trip to York Road also ended in defeat with Richard Pacquette getting the only goal of the game last season.

Players: Drew Roberts and Ryan Frater both return from suspension for the Saints but Steve Castle will have to do without Gary Cohen for the Boxing Day trip as he sits out the game through suspension. Australian Angus McLachlan could continue in Cohen's absence.

Castle has plenty of options at the back with Adam Everitt, Mark Peters, Justin Clayton and Frater all vying for a place in the starting XI.

Maidenhead will have to do without two players due to suspension.

Jamal Fyfield, starts the first of a three game ban following his dismissal against Bishop's Stortford, while Dave Clarke is also suspended for three games following his red card at Lewes.

Referee: Anthony Serrano (Hemel Hempstead, Herts) assisted by P Webb and I D Kitchen.