ST ALBANS CITY gave the Premier Division new boys Ford United a tough taste of life among the Ryman League's elite at Clarence Park on Saturday, August 17, as the Saints got their new campaign off to a winning start.

In winning their opening home match for the first time in six years the Saints played some highly enterprising football and, on this evidence, look to have the best passing team seen at the Park since the cavalier days of Allan Cockram and Martin Duffield.

Led out by Steve Castle deputising as captain for the injured Derek Brown Hamid Barr particularly caught the eye while Scott Oakes also enjoyed a sound debut and supplied a series of corners that were never far short of perfection.

Beckett Hollenbach settled very swiftly at left back while up-front Gary Crawshaw toiled hard to link with Simon Martin and the former Farnborough man looks like he could well be one of the signings of the season.

Of the backline only Ryan Moran remained from last season and the unit looked solid until the visitors upped the tempo after the interval and then City were frequently exposed, with Brown's absence becoming more visible as the game progressed.

City appeared comfortable from the off and it was of little surprise when the opening goal arrived on 16 minutes. Scott Oakes stretched well to head the ball to Jon Challinor who sent a glorious ball down the right to Martin just inside the penalty area.

With his back to goal Martin turned neatly to his left and wide of his marker, Paul Salmon, before screwing a shot across keeper Alexis Vizarelis and inside the far post.

Castle somehow scooped a shot wide from seven yards following a perfect Oakes' free-kick as City kept up the pressure and on 28 minutes the lead was doubled with a stunning second goal.

Castle sent Barr wide towards the left hand corner flag, the former QPR player waltzed around John O'Sullivan and cut along the goalline into the penalty area. Peeling away from the line Barr arrowed a shot between Vizarelis and the near post to mark his debut with a goal to remember.

After the interval Ford offered more as an attacking force but didn't look to have the fire-power to seriously trouble the Saints.

However, all that changed on 63 minutes when a foul by Ryan Moran on Andrew Aransibia led to Glen Poole whipping over a free kick which Warren Hackett headed home at the back post.

Suddenly there was new life in the visitors and City looked uneasy but the tension eased on 70 minutes when former Saint Paul Adolphe fouled Challinor 24 yards from goal. Oakes curled a low free kick to Vizarelis' left, and, as the keeper could only parry, Miguel De Souza was on hand to slot the ball home from a tight angle.

City's growing uncertainty at the back was finally punished five minutes from time when a cross by Poole caused mayhem and when Richard Wilmot failed to deal effectively with a chip back into the goalmouth and Jay Devereux pounced to set up a tense finish which saw Wilmot make an ultimately match winning and remarkable point blank save from Bradley Woodard's header.

August 23, 2002 11:30