Veteran goalkeeper Paul Bastock was in quite magnificent form at one end of the pitch on Saturday but St Albans City’s all too familiar failings at the opposite end played a major part in the Saints going down 1-0 to promotion hopefuls Chelmsford City at Clarence Park.

In a game dreadfully low on good quality football the Saints were a match for Chelmsford’s expensively assembled side in all areas except in attack. Glenn Pennyfather’s Clarets had a true match winner in Ricky Holmes but even he was denied four times by Bastock before claiming his sixth goal in seven games.

Chelmsford started with the XI that lifted the club into a play off position with a midweek win over Welling while City gambled by moving central defender Mark Peters into the front line in place of Lamine Sagna.

St Albans, attacking the Hatfield Road goal, began encouragingly and won the first corner of the day through Gary Cohen.

And Cohen also troubled the visitors when he blocked a clearance by Clarets keeper Ashley Harrison but, fortunately for Chelmsford, the ball went away from goal and out for a throw.

A swift counterattack by the Essex side brought Bastock into the action for the first time on 14 minutes. Drew Roberts’ corner was knocked away as far as Peter Smith who lost possession inside the Chelmsford half. A good ball by Antony Cook sent the towering Rob Edmans clear but his low shot was well saved by Bastock’s outstretched left leg.

A minute later Bastock did well to push away to his left a shot from Holmes and was swiftly back on his feet to turn Edmans follow up from a tight angle around the post.

Although St Albans were matching Chelmsford for possession the only genuine threat on goal was coming from the visitors who mustered seven first half efforts on goal to City’s two, none of which were on target.

Holmes continued to worry the Saints and fired another effort across the face of the goal after a Smith clearance had been charged down.

An error strewn half was petering out tamely when Peters livened up proceedings with a shocking lunge on Michael Haswell that drew the first yellow card of the day.

Peters could certainly have no qualms about his booking but City could feel aggrieved that referee Neil Hair, having spoken to Chelmsford defender Mark Haines for holding Justin Clayton at an early corner, then proceeded to turn a blind eye when Haines continued to offend at every corner and free kick during the remainder of the match.

Before the half finally came to a welcome close Clayton got in a fine tackle to thwart Holmes while Dave Rainford drilled an effort high over Bastock’s goal.

St Albans began the second period in the ascendancy but had a let off when a back pass by James Fisher put Bastock under pressure with his kick going straight to Chelmsford midfielder Ollie Berquez, his first time snap shot lacked venom but still caused Bastock to scamper across his goal to gather.

After a wait of 51 minutes the Saints at last directed a shot on target when the exiting Smith, seizing on a partially cleared James Quilter free kick, cut in from the left and drove a shot in from 30 yards that Harrison was relieved to claw away for a corner.

Two minutes later Smith forced Harrison into another save with a well struck free kick form out on the right. Chelmsford looked to break swiftly from the Saints tightening grip but a foul by Poku on Cook terminated the move and began a spell of ill-discipline, starting with a yellow card for the Saints midfielder.

Berquez was booked for a foul on Poku and the game was held up for three minutes as referee Hair sought to deal with a round of push and shove that ended with another four names going into his book and Rainford a tad fortunate not to see red.

The goal that settled the match, on 65 minutes, added to Steve Castle’s frustration as Poku carelessly lost possession with a loose pass on the half way line. Chelmsford quickly burst forward to attack down the right through Edmans.

The one-time college footballer in Virginia crossed low into the penalty area where Clayton’s clearance only went as far as Holmes who carefully slotted the ball to Bastock’s left.

With their confidence raised Chelmsford attacked with greater purpose and Cook almost latched onto Holmes through ball but Bastock was out swiftly to save bravely at his feet. Edmans did get the ball into the net following a Holmes pass but was adjudged to be offside.

For more than 80 minutes the experiment of playing Peters up front had hardly been a resounding success as not one cross had been delivered to an area inside the penalty area that he could turn to his advantage.

But on 82 minutes his moment looked to be coming following an in-swinging Smith corner, Harrison, though, just managed to get enough of a hand onto the ball to put Peters off balance and head gently over.

Three minutes from time Holmes had a great opportunity to put the game completely out of St Albans reach but again Bastock was equal to the task and dived to his right to concede just a corner.

Three minutes into added time and Bastock again came to City’s rescue, this time with a glorious double save. The Bostonian keeper did well to again save to his right from Holmes and then, as Berquez moved in for the kill, sprang with great agility to save once more from the former Stevenage player.

Just seconds before the final whistle a disappointing crowd of 467 almost had a late burst of excitement when Smith launched a free kick towards the back post from the Saints right that found Peters, but unable to get above the ball he headed gently through to a relieve Harrison.

Bookings for City skipper Ryan Frater and leading scorer Drew Roberts has ruled both players out of the Saints trip to Dover Athletic on 19 December. James Fisher is also missing for next Saturday’s return game with Bromley. All three players have a one-match ban after accruing five yellow cards.

St Albans City: P.Bastock, J.Quilter (J.O’Donnell 66), P.Smith, G.Poku (D.Johnson 72), J.Clayton, R.Frater, J.Fisher, S.Shields, M.Peters, D.Roberts (L.Sagna 72), G.Cohen, subs; A.Everitt, C.Mortimer.

Chelmsford City: A.Harrison, S.Clark, M.Haswell, M.Haines, S.Ward, D.Rainford, O.Berquez, A.Cook, R.Edmans, M.Lock, R.Holmes, subs; B.Martin, J.Martin, R.Modeste, M.Patterson, C.Holloway.

Goals: 0-1 Holmes 65.

Booked: Peters, Poku, Frater, Roberts, Ward, Berquez, Cook, Rainford.

Referee: Neil Hair (Peterborough).

Att: 467.

Prior to the kick off a minute’s silence was held in memory of St Albans City supporter Graham Cathard who died during the week after losing his battle with cancer.