Praise for Shaun Lucien and Sam Merson as St Albans City win in FA Cup
St Albans City manager Ian Allinson seen having a joke with Watford's Harry Kewell in pre-season. Picture: BOB WALKLEY - Credit: Archant
Birthday boy Ian Allinson was a happy man after seeing his St Albans City side trounce Worthing 6-0 to take their place in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.
The Vanarama National League South side looked confident throughout with Sam Merson getting two in the first half and Shaun Lucien a second-half hat-trick.
Louie Theophanous completed the scorers.
Allinson though was delighted for Merson and Lucien though, with the pair not always in the starting XI.
He said: “[Lucien] has been playing really well of late and maybe he’s been a bit unfortunate because he’s the one who has had to make way for people in away games.
“That’s something I’ve got to seriously look at when we go away because the lad has got unbelivable feet.
“On Thursday night he was outstanding in training and he’s carried that forward to today.
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“And I’m glad he got the hat-trick because it’s something he deserves and I felt his overall game was superb.
“[Merson] got a bit tired late on because he hasn’t played much football. The same goes for Rhys Hoenes and Andrew Iwediuno but that’s the lads [who have started] have done such a good job.
“When they get their opportunity we have to be patient as we know they need four games or so to build up their match fitness,”
Allinson can now turn his attention to the next round of what is an important competition for Saints.
He said: “I said when we were at Dereham that we need to get to the first round and then see where we are.
“That to us is like a Premier League side getting to the sixth round.
“If we can do that and the draw works out for us then great.
“But anyone at home in the next round, we’ll give them a good tie.
“We’ve just got to keep working hard and hopefully the draw will be kind to us on Monday.”
