Match Preview - St Albans City

Corinthian-Casuals face their sternest challenge on Tuesday night as James Bracken’s side travel to Clarence Park to face National League South high-flyers St Alban’s City in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round.
 
Coming off the back of his heaviest defeat in his time at Tolworth, Bracken must quickly rally his troops to ensure they are prepared to face the highest scoring side in the league above.
 
The Saints added another four to their impressive tally at the weekend, winning 4-2 at Chelmsford City. Ralston Gabriel doing the damage bagging all four goals. He’s clearly the danger man having notched nine goals this season.
 
Ian Allinson’s side currently sit in sixth position having won their four previous league matches. This will be their first Cup test of the season, entering at this stage.
 
Allinson, an ex-Arsenal, Luton and Colchester winger took charge of the Saints in 2016 and guided them to an eighth place finish in the league last season.
 
Casuals were fortuitous to reach this stage having lost to Whyteleafe in the previous round, following a replay at Church Road. The day before Leafe and St Albans were due to meet, the Surrey club were slapped with a charge having played an ineligible player in the previous round at Saltdean. Therefore, they were removed from the competition and Casuals re-instated in their place.
 
This is the furthest that Corinth have reached in the competition since 2001, where they were soundly beaten 6-0 by Basingstoke Town.
 
Casuals and the Saints have a long history of matches between them, being old Isthmian foes for decades. However, they last met in league competition in 1977 when St Albans ran out 4-0 winners.

The winners of this tie will face Taunton Town away on Saturday, having pocketed a further £9,000 in prize money. Should the result be a draw, the replay will take place at Tolworth on Saturday 6th October, 3pm. Therefore, if Casuals advance in the competition or take it to a replay, the trip to Bognor Regis Town will be put back until a later date.
 
St Albans City play at the Clarence Park Stadium, York Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 4PL. It’s just under 50 miles from King George’s Arena and in good traffic (M25? Hah!) should take approximately an hour.
 
For those looking to let the train take the strain, take the Overground from Clapham Junction to West Hampstead and change onto the Thameslink service to St Albans City. The stadium is approximately 10 minutes walk from the station.
 
There is a supporter’s coach leaving from the Chessington Oak pub in… erm, Chessington at 5.30pm. Contact Dan Harris (twitter @dh5603) for booking details. It’s £20 return.
 
We hope you can join us and that once again, James and his side can make a little more history.

Pic: Courtesy of St Albans City FC