St Albans boss Ian Allinson on FA Cup shambles after ‘lost afternoon’

Assistant manager of St Albans Glen Alzapiedi and Manager of St Albans Ian Allinson on the touchline in the pre-season friendly match between St Albans City and Northampton Town. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)

St Albans City are set to face Corinthian Casuals in the FA Cup at Clarence Park on Tuesday after original second qualifying round opponents Whyteleafe were kicked out of the tournament pending an appeal.

The frustrating situation came about after Saints opponents were charged by the FA for fielding a suspended player in an earlier round of the competition, which led to the postponement of the original tie scheduled for Saturday.

The Surrey-based side have appealed against the decision with Saints awaiting the outcome of Friday’s verdict.

However it is widely expected the FA’s decision will be upheld – leaving the Casuals, who fell to Whyteleafe in the previous round, reinstated to face Ian Allinson’s men for a place in the third qualifying round.

Lee Allinson celebrates with St Albans' Rhys Murrell-Williamson during his time as assistant manager at the step-two side. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Robert Walkley)

Allinson said: “It’s frustrating. We had them watched. We’ve been working hard preparing for the game and then to have it cancelled is difficult.

“There were rumours flying around, but until it’s confirmed you can’t legislate for it.

“You simply can’t plan and prepare for this. The issue happened in the previous round when they played Saltdean and for me it’s simply taken far too long. We will await the outcome of Friday’s appeal. We can’t prepare until we know who we’re going to face.”

If Saints overcome the famous amateurs they face a long trip to the west country to play Taunton Town in the third qualifying round on Saturday, October 6.

David Noble scored his first goal from open play against Concord Rangers, the last team he did it against. Picture: LEIGH PAGE (Image: Copyright - Leigh Page 2018)

Ninth-placed Saints are set to face eighth-placed Chelmsford City on Saturday with the sides a single point off Slough Town in the final play-off spot.

Allinson previewed the match, saying: “We ended up training last Saturday in the end, but it was a lost afternoon.

“It’s frustrating as we were in good form in the run-up to last Saturday. We’d won three on the trot. Chelmsford will be a tough ask because they went out of the cup against Worthing who are a league lower, so I expect a backlash from them. We’ll have to be on our game.

“It’s not worth preparing for Taunton when I don’t even know who we’re playing next week yet. This whole situation simply hasn’t helped us. It’s a shambles.”

Zane Banton prepares to pull the trigger for St Albans City. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)