Faced by opponents with such a cosmic title, Directors played out the first half last Sunday in a very spaced out fashion, going behind early on to a hopeful long range effort.

The visitors' passing was good, but their final ball was not incisive enough to cut through a dogged home backline, which was first to every ball put forward.

Inevitably the breakthrough came via a penalty, awarded after Chad Driver took a tumble in the box.

Following two misses from the spot in the last two games, newly appointed 12 yard specialist Phil Blackburne stepped up to net confidently, leaving the teams all square at the turn round.

Playing down the slope after the break, Directors dominated possession, but failed to turn their superiority into goals.

Blackburne put them ahead with a rasping low drive midway through the second period, and Directors made it three when a goalkeeping blunder left Marc Lewis with a simple chance to notch his 14th goal of the season.

Skytop 1

Directors Arms Old Boys 3

St Albans & Verulam League

Division Two

November 7, 2001 14:13