Saints and Waders play out drab draw

Tom Ward takes on three defenders. Picture: Bob Walkley (Image: RJW.Photography)

A diving save from Paul Bastock in the final 10 minutes was the only time City’s shot stopper was tested and Ian Brown in the Biggleswade goal was also a pedestrian for most of the game.

John Frendo, in his first game back from a three-game suspension, had the first chance in the seventh minute, snapping a left footed volley wide of the post after Kerrea Gilbert had headed the ball through to him.

The first chance followed an early booking for Sam Corcoran, in the second minute, for a foul on Lee Allinson.

Elliot Bailey, who has filled in so well for Frendo, had the next chance. A cross field ball from James Comley to Kerrea Gilbert saw him feed Bailey. The teenager floated a cross-cum-shot from the right left Ian Brown stranded but it hit the bar.

With St Albans monopolising possession, the Waders reshuffled their pack with Lee Reed coming off for Jon Woolf.

City almost capitalised on a mistake but Comley’s shot from distance was deflected and looped up into Brown’s arms.

For all their possession, City were almost caught out from a teasing cross towards the back post but Craig Daniel’s downward header was the wrong side of Paul Bastock’s right-hand post.

At the other end, a long throw-in from Lee Chappell saw Bailey with the ball at his feet six yards from goal but a lunging block kept his shot out.

Frendo continued to cause problems for Biggleswade, and after a talking to by the referee, he turned and fired a shot across goal.

Danny Green was the next to get a talking to. The Biggleswade players surrounded the referee, appealing for an elbow, but the referee saw nothing in it. He also spoke to Brett Donnelly after the incident but again he saw nothing to warrant a card.

Green, having been spoken to, was then clattered to the ground and five minutes received treatment but he carried on.

It was the last action of an uninspiring half as the teams went into the break level at 0-0.

City came out unchanged after the restart and they created the first chance. Sam Corcoran and Gilbert combined to set up Comley but he was quickly surrounded and the chance went begging.

St Albans kept the pressure up and, after the ball was cleared the edge of the area, Sam Corcoran fired a volley into the ground that Brown easily collected.

Evan Key’s turn and shot that cannoned off the upright was the main highlight of a drab second that threatened to come alive in the final 10 minutes but never delivered.

Comley stayed on his feet under a challenge from Brown before delivering a ball which was cleared off the line from a Ben Martin header. At the other end, Biggleswade had two chances cleared off the line, the second a diving save from Bastock.

Biggleswade and City had periods of pressure at the end of the game but the defences came out on top and the game ended 0-0, a fair result for what was a poor game for both sides.