National League South: David Noble swoops again as St Albans City put Concord Rangers to the sword

David Noble must enjoy the sight of Concord Rangers pulling up the drive at Clarence Park as his first goal from open play in over a year put St Albans City on their way to a 2-0 win.

The Essex side were the victim then, losing 2-1 in August, and this one was not a screamer.

But they all count.

The ball fell to him on the edge of the area after Concord failed to clear a Ben Wyatt incursion and although it bounced on its way through, it helped it beat Sam Beasant, kissing the post on its way.

The second was a beauty though and came from the mercurial Percy Kiangebeni.

Easily his best game of the year, the young City midfielder bamboozled his way into the box but firing round the keeper.

It was fully-deserved win for St Albans, making it three in a row in the Vanarama National League South, and moving them up to ninth.

Saints showed two changes to the side that had clinched a surprising 4-2 win at East Thurrock United, where three of their goals came from the 88th minute onwards.

In came Dave Diedhiou and Kiangebeni and out when Solomon Sambou and Ralston Gabriel, with manager Ian Allinson opting against the three-pronged attack again.

The first half was a solid, if unspectacular affair for Saints but it did show a maturity that has perhaps been missing in the early stages of the season.

Until Noble’s goal the most entertaining part was watching the physical battle between Tom Bender and Concord’s Alex Wall.

The City centre-half had the measure of the big number nine all day, and after going down under most challenges, Wall earned himself a booking for a dive.

The best chances though fell to the away side, Dean Snedker beating out a Jack Midson drive before hacking clear a scramble from the line following a corner.

The second period was much better from an attacking sense for City.

David Moyo smashed one off the bar before nicking another inches wide and Ben Wyatt also sent one across the face of the goal.

Concord had been rattled in the first half but regained their composure after the break.

However, chances were limited thanks to the superb defensive showing of Bender, Diedhiou and Lewis Knight.

Kiangebeni’s talent sometimes seems to confuse himself but he certainly baffled the Beachboys defence as he wriggled through.

And that goal settled the contest.

Sub Khale Da Costa went close in a decent cameo but City are full of confidence at the minute and this performance will do nothing to dampen that.

St Albans City: Snedker, Herd, Bender, Noble, Sho-Silva (Sambou 29), Knight, Wyatt, Diedhiou, Merson (Gabriel 75), Moyo (Da Costa 80), Kiangebeni.

Subs (not used): Banton, Kamdjo.

Goals: Noble 42, Kiangebeni 73

Booked: Gabriel 90

Concord Rangers: Beasent, Smith (Hayes 62), Shaw, Pollock, Minshull, Sterling, Popo (Topley 66), Blackman, Wall, Midson (Green 69), Knott.

Sub (not used): Confrey

Goal:

Booked: Wall 40, Midson 45+1, Minshull 61

HT: St Albans City 1 Concord Rangers 0

Attendance: 528

Referee: Jason Richardson (Ruislip)