ST ALBANS got their National League Division One campaign off to a winning start with a hard-earned 2-1 win against Chelmsford at Clarence Park, but were made to sweat as an inability to kill off the game almost cost Julian Hall's men dear.

Saints made their intentions clear from the start and took the game to Chelmsford who made the Division One play-offs last season resulting in the visitors conceding a penalty corner with less than a minute on the clock.

The set-piece saw Glen Webster's deflected effort well saved and from the resultant long corner, Julian Halls' drive was deflected towards the far post by Stedman and captain Ian Hammond was on hand to guide the ball home from two yards to give Saints the perfect start.

However, Chelmsford did get back on level terms after 15 minutes when good work from Evans released Thorogood who fired home from 12 yards leaving Balfour with no chance.

To their credit, Saints bounced back from the setback but wasted three penalty corners as the forwards continued to struggle in front of goal.

Saints did regain the lead moments later though, after Halls broke up a Chelmsford attack and drove the ball back into the visitor's shooting circle where Hammond wrong footed the keeper with the deftest of touches for his second to edge St Albans back in front.

Saints continued to dominate in the second half but Hammond seemed to have left his goalscoring touch in the dressing room as he contrived to miss a hatful of chances.

St Albans began to appear increasingly nervous as poor finishing and some outstanding goalkeeping kept Chelmsford in the game, although the visitors looked more than capable of scoring themselves on the counter-attack.

Chelmsford thought they had snatched an unlikely equaliser with 15 minutes left, but the South African international Steve Fulton had his goal disallowed after an earlier infringement in the shooting circle.

Sensing that the home side was rattled, Chelmsford piled forward in the closing stages and came close to levelling matters right at the death, but Evans flicked a penalty corner over the bar.

October 18, 2001 16:33