St Albans 1
(Hutchinson 6′)
United 1
(Young pen 53′)
In a game of two halves, United came from behind to secure a point at St Albans on Saturday
After falling behind to Harrison Smith’s early goal, The Gulls had to wait until the second half for Jordan Young to level the scores via the penalty spot, but despite their best efforts, Paul Wotton’s men weren’t quite able to secure another win on the road.
Wotton opted to make two changes from the 3-1 win over Welling last weekend, with full-backs Jordan Thomas and Jay Foulston returning to the side in place of Finley Craske and Dean Moxey respectively.
Things didn’t start well in Hertfordshire, as Zane Banton’s through-ball picked up the run of Smith, who duly beat James Hamon with a diagonal low shot to make it 1-0 to the hosts after six minutes.
In response, Torquay created a couple of chances, but they were unable to exert any real authority over proceedings, although Thomas nearly bundled the ball home from close range after Oscar Threlkeld’s ball into the box almost caught out home goalkeeper Michael Johnson.
St Albans remained in the driving seat up until the interval, with Wotton making a double-change at the change of ends.
On came Omar Mussa and Lirak Hasani in place of Dylan Morgan and Will Jenkins Davies, however it was one on the starting eleven that eventually restored parity.
Thomas’ dart into the box caused panic in the home backline, and with the tangle prompting the referee to make a decision, a penalty presented United with a pathway back into the match.
After some discussion, regular spot kick taker Cody Cooke handed over responsibility to Young, who in turn wasted little time in firing home to makes it all-square in the 53rd minute.
The rest of the match saw The Gulls lay siege to the Saints. goal in search of a winner.
Twice the woodwork was struck – first through Dan Hayfield, then through Young, with the latter also firing wide in a one-on-one opportunity, as St Albans struggled to contain the former Yeovil wideman.
United thought they’d finally found the breakthrough with 17 minutes left, however after Foulston’s header hit the net following Mussa’s corner, an Assistant’s flag ruled the ball had curled out of play in the build-up.
Try as they might, Wotton’s side couldn’t force a late winner, however their unbeaten league run stretches to twelve matches ahead of a trip to Slough on Tuesday.
ST ALBANS: 1. Michael Johnson, 2. Jack James, 6. David Longe-King, 9. Shaun Jeffers, 10. Harrison Smith, 11. Zane Banton (23. Reuben Wyatt, 85′), 12. Alfie Bendle (20. Gio Rasulo, 85′), 15. Dean Woodman, 29. Dom Hutchinson (14. Josh Castiglione, 76′), 30. Tafari Moore (3. Lewis Miccio, 65′), 32. James Claridge.
SUBS NOT USED: 17. Iffy Allen.
Yellow Card: LongE-King 34′, Bendle 64′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston (14. Matt Carson, 74′), 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 8. Jordan Young, 18. Oscar Threlkeld, 19. Cody Cooke, 20. Dan Hayfield, 22. Will Jenkins Davies (7. Lirak Hasani, HT), 26. Jordan Thomas, 29. Dylan Morgan (10. Omar Mussa, HT).
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Finley Craske, 16. Ed Palmer.
Attendance: 2,665