Ten-man Saints impress despite loss to Chesham United

ST ALBANS City’s unbeaten start to the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division campaign came to an end as they were beaten 2-1 at Chesham United, having played 85 minutes with 10 men.

Saints central defender Curtis Ujah was given his marching orders just five minutes into the Bank Holiday Monday clash after a dangerous tackle on United’s Dave Fotheringham.

However, his team-mates can feel disappointed not to have gained a point or even more from their sterling efforts against The Generals at The Meadow.

Shortly after Ujah’s dismissal Fotheringham gained his revenge on The Saints by slotting past keeper Nick Jupp from the left hand side of the penalty box.

The same player then doubled Chesham’s advantage as he tucked home a rebound after Simon Thomas had headed against the post.

Rather than pushing on to add to their tally, Chesham were pegged back by the well-drilled 10-men of St Albans.

David Howell’s troops, re-organised from a 4-4-2 into a 4-3-2 formation, offered an attacking threat with top scorer Lewis Toomey denied by keeper Shane Gore and Barry Hayles firing over following a clever Richard Graham through ball.

After the break Hayles was denied as Gore pushed his effort around the post and then City were gifted a way back into the game as a clumsy James Potton challenge on Graham saw the referee point to the penalty spot on 51 minutes.

Toomey stepped up and tucked the spot kick into the bottom left corner to maintain his goal every game record in the league this season, that was his fifth goal in four matches.

As the Saints hunted a leveller midfiender David Ijaha’s surging run and shot was blocked only for the ball to fall to Micah Hyde who sent Gore sprawling to his left as his shot flashed wide.

From a Graham corner, James Gray had a looping header tipped over as City were unable to maintain their three-league match unbeaten run.

City are back in action on Saturday as they host Stourbridge at Clarence Park, kick-off 3pm.