Injuries and suspensions saw Garry Haylock’s squad stretched to the limits at York Road on Saturday against fellow strugglers St Albans City, United fielding a 16 that contained four of this seasons’ Academy side.
After an even first few minutes, the Saints were to take an eighth minute lead when Michael Thalassitis fed the ball wide right to Louie Theophanous, the strikers curling cross being met powerfully in the middle by an unmarked Charlie MacDonald.
United’s only real creative effort of the first half came a minute after going behind when Tom Collins knocked the ball down to Luke Williams who hit a first time shot from 25 yards that Saints ‘keeper Joe Welch did well to push around the post.
The visitors continued to push against United’s makeshift defence and nearly went two up in the fifteenth minute when Colin Mugoya sliced a near post Harry Anderson corner against his own post, Darren Purse doing the clearing up in the middle of the six yard box.
With United being held firmly on the back foot, a Lee Chappell corner was missed by James Hamon with the giant figure of Ben Martin getting his head to the ball but just missing the target to the left of the upright. Number two for the Saints was only minutes away though as United gifted the ball to City in the middle of the park and one pass later Theophanous was through on goal and fired past Hamon’s dive into the far corner.
A minute from the break the visitors should have had another as Anderson’s cross-shot was met at the far post by a sliding Thalassitis who sent the ball wide of the United goal.
United started better in the second half and created the first chance, Olumide Durojaiye’s centre being tipped away from Elliot Benyon by Welch at full stretch, Mugoya played the ball back in to the box where Williams made space only for his effort to be blocked by Eddie Oshodi.
Thalassitis again fired wide when well placed before a loose pass in midfield was pounced on by Anderson who ran at the United box before firing home from 20 yards.
United were too inviting to the Saints as they continued to push ahead looking for more. Hamon did well to push a Thalassitis shot around the post and minutes later he was needed again as Anderson tried from distance again, Hamon palming his shot away but only to Theophanous who fired wide from close range. Still the pressure came at United’s makeshift back-line, this time Hamon denied Scott Thomas with MacDonald firing the rebound wide.
In a rare attack on the Saints box, United pulled one back with 11 minutes to play. Max Worsfold sent in a cross come shot that looked to be drifting over Welch, the ‘keeper touching the effort on to the crossbar only for substitute Ismael Ehui to strike a sweet volley back in to the Saints net.
Ehui went close again a few minutes later having collected the ball from Shepherd Murombedzi, the striker tried his luck with an overhead kick that just cleared the Saints crossbar.
With the game already lost, United almost conceded again in the final minute when Anderson nipped into the box on the right and picked out Theophanous in the middle, the striker delayed his strike which enabled Durojaiye to block his effort with referee Cook bringing the game to its conclusion minutes later sealing a bad day at the office for Garry Haylock’s side who slip back to 17th.
Report by Kevin Watts.
Photos by Ray Peploe.
United Man of the Match: Luke Williams.
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