ST ALBANS found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline at Clarence Park on Saturday, October 7.

Normally a fortress for the Saints, visitors Exmouth exploited the home side's weaknesses to take all three points.

Looking to build on the previous week's success, St Albans started the game the brighter of the two sides. It was their turn to have the early pressure, but they were unable to convert the pressure into goals.

As the game began to settle down, both teams struggled to maintain possession of the ball for any period of time.

St Albans had their moments and forced some short corners, mainly due to initiative shown by Lucy Bliss and Sarah Fretwell, but they could not make them count.

Exmouth looked to catch the Saints on the break, but some good defending from Gayle Ashby and Liz Copeman ensured these opportunities came to nothing.

Exmouth looked to have more urgency about them in the second half, but it was St Albans who eventually made the breakthrough.

Again the play came from the right hand side, and as Bliss made a penetrating run, she was adjudged to be stopped illegally.

Harriet Preest took the resulting penalty stroke and did not connect properly with the ball, but the Exmouth keeper had already gone to make the save anticipating Preest's move, and could only watch the ball dribble over the line.

Although the goal gave the Saints a cushion, they looked far from convincing in defending their slender lead.

Exmouth pushed further forward and, with the help of some dubious umpiring, managed to cause problems in the heart of the St Albans defence.

Michelle Stone levelled the scores in the 53rd minute from a straight strike at a short corner, and then seven minutes later their captain finished off an impressive individual performance, turning a cross past keeper Jo Hunt to put the visitors infront.

The Saints tried to hit straight back and forced a couple of late corners, but these came to nothing.

It was too little too late for the Saints, who will hoping for a better display on Saturday, October 14, against Reading at Clarence Park, with push-off at 1.30pm.

October 11, 2001 18:59