City end friendlies on a high

In the first 30 minutes Matt Jones and John Pollard went close with headers from Gary Cobb crosses while Dominic Gentle and Neil Trebble tested former City trialist Jamie Hollman with low drives.

Ian Cambridge struck an upright for the visitors before Steve Clark slipped a ball wide for Gentle to cleverly cut it back to Trebble whose first time shot gave Hollman no hope from 20 yards as City went ahead on 40 minutes.

Aside from Trebble twice forcing Hollman into good saves and Rob Haworth doing likewise after a lengthy run, the second half failed to retain great interest. All that changed on 88 minutes when Haworth unleashed a stunning drive from 25 yards which flew high into the back of Hollman's net.

The visitors miserable afternoon was compounded in the final minute when Gary Caldon crossed low from the City right for Gentle to score at the back post.

St Albans City: Newell (Lomas 69), Blaney (Meredith 45), Peter Risley (Scott Darton 45), Andy Polston (Evans 66), Cobb (Kane 58), Pollard, Trebble (D Gentle 86), Turner, Clark (Haworth 66), D Gentle (Caldon 58), Jones.

Hill confident of City success

ALL the pontificating comes to an end on Saturday as St Albans City head for Stonebridge Road to face Gravesend and Northfleet for the start of the 1998-99 Ryman League season.

With a good number of City fans openly declaring that a good season for the club is on the horizon, manager Garry Hill errs on the side of caution and after first joking that he'll be happy if City stay up he gave a more confident assessment.

"As it stands at the moment I think we are looking top six and anything below that would be a poor season. I have set myself little targets and if we have 19 or 20 points after ten games then I'll be happy," said Hill who takes his side to Gravesend this weekend looking for victory and is determined that the Saints home record is an improvement on recent seasons.

"I am confident that we are going to get a result at Gravesend. It is not a case of being cocky it is just a case of playing the way we have been playing and work the way we have been working and then we will get the result we are looking for."

"Supporters basically pay the players wages and the club has not achieved what it should have done at home recently, we have to out that right. I think sides like coming to Clarence Park with its nice pitch and the whole set up and we have to make them frightened of coming here, to get it that way we have to play attractive football, play to our strengthens."

Hill has almost his full 23-man squad from which to select a side with the only absentee being Kevin Mudd. The Saints club captain is now sprinting again after a recent knee operation but is not expected to be available for selection for around another month.

Justin Gentle has sat out the Saints past couple of friendlies due to an injury received to his left ankle last season. Gentle is due to have it examined by a consultant in two weeks time but is expected to continue playing in the meantime.

The most famous tree in British football is on the verge of being removed from St Albans City's Clarence Park ground. The oak which stands in the terrace at the Hatfield Road end of the ground is diseased and is to be felled as it poses a potential danger to spectators.

The tree, which is believed to be in the region of 130 to 140 years old, gained national publicity in 1993 when the Vauxhall Conference declared that the Saints would not be promoted as long as the tree remained in the terracing.

Duo return to Saints

ST Albans City's first home match of the Ryman League season, against Sutton United next Monday, August 24, sees the return to Clarence Park of goalkeeper Gareth Howells and striker Barry Blackman who both joined the Surrey club during the summer.

Sutton have made massive changes to their squad during the close season with the former City duo being just a small part of a major rebuilding programme undertaken by U's boss John Rains. Kick off at Clarence Park is at 7.30pm.

St Albans will be away to Ware in the semi final of the Herts Charity Cup following the Division Three Ryman League side 2-1 victory over Hertford Town.

A 102 page statistical review of the entire Ryman League for last season has been compiled by results co-ordinator Mike Wilson. The book, which costs just £5 (inc p+p), features results, goalscorers, attendances and appearances from league games and the multitude of cup competitions entered by the clubs within the league. Copies can be ordered direct from Mike Wilson at 75 Canada Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 2HF.

City landmark to be felled

THE most famous tree in British football is on the verge of being removed from St Albans City's Clarence Park ground. The oak which stands in the terrace at the Hatfield Road end of the ground is diseased and is to be felled as it poses a potential danger to spectators.

The tree, which is believed to be in the region of 130 to 140 years old, gained national publicity in 1993 when the Vauxhall Conference declared that the Saints would not be promoted as long as the tree remained in the terracing.

Daly becomes a Don

JON Daly's very popular three year stint at Clarence Park came to an end last week when the 30 year old midfielder signed a two year deal with Ryman League Premier Division rivals Hendon.

City are believed to have received comfortably more than the £2,500 they paid Kingstonian for his services in 1995. Daly, the Saints Player of the Year in 1996-97 and runner-up last season, had two years left to run on his contract at Clarence Park but is now back at Claremont Road for his second spell with Hendon. He had his first run-out with his new club last Tuesday during a friendly with Baldock Town.

The Saints will be away to Ware in the semi final of the Herts Charity Cup following the Division Three Ryman League sides 2-1 victory over neighbours Hertford Town.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.