New-boys hit right notes as Saints silence Robins

City gave debuts to the on-loan Queens Park Rangers duo of right back Michael Harriman and striker Mo Shariff and also to former Wealdstone midfielder Chris O’Leary.

The QPR duo lived up their pre-match billing and hype while O’Leary was a great success in the middle of the park as he added steel and skill to a department that has appeared flimsy thus far.

City also welcomed back, again on loan, Peterborough United left-back Nathan Ralph, who once more underlined his undoubted potential.

With all the new boys – each on a four-week loan - going straight into the side Saints manager David Howell made, for the second successive match, a staggering seven changes. With the new acquisitions settling in so well St Albans may finally start to field a settled starting XI over the coming month.

Evesham, languishing just above the relegation zone and having conceded 12 goals in their previous three matches, survived early City pressure to take the lead from the penalty spot on 10 minutes.

St Albans struggled to break up a United attack despite Matt Cutchey getting in two solid block tackles.

Before the ball was fully cleared Josh Quaynor chipped a pass into the penalty area. James Gray attacked the ball but slightly misjudged the flight and appeared to partly land on Lewis Pountney, sending the Evesham forward tumbling to the ground.

Referee Graeme Ions, who had an excellent match, pointed to the spot and after Gray was cautioned Quaynor drove the ball firmly but only just under the left hand of the diving Jupp to open the scoring.

City’s equaliser on 15 minutes was a gem from start to finish.

Harriman broke up an Evesham attack on the edge of the home penalty area and played the ball up to Shariff who, after advancing to the half way line, played a return pass to the over-lapping Harriman.

The on-loan right-back in turn fed Sean Shields. After being forced back Shields laid a simple pass into the path of Harriman and from his cross close to the touchline 43-year-old Paul Furlong rolled back the years to beat United keeper David Bevan with an exquisite header from ten yards.

Now back on level terms City attacked with a vigour not seen since the early weeks of the season. Even so, after Shariff forced Bevan into a save Evesham created a clear opportunity to regain the lead.

An excellent cross-field ball by Quaynor sent Marcus Palmer clear on goal. Jupp used his legs well to block the striker’s shot, Pountney seized on the loose ball but his attempted scoop over Jupp lacked the power required to beat the City keeper.

Within a further five minutes City had assumed complete control with two further goals.

The second City goal, on 18 minutes, was almost a replica of the first as Shariff played the ball out to Harriman who again teed up Shields. This time Shields whipped a perfect cross into the goalmouth for Furlong to knee the ball into the back of the York Road goal.

Shariff, having a had a hand in the build up to the first two goals played an even larger part in the third St Albans goal on 20 minutes when his shot was sliced into his own net by Evesham defender James Blake.

The Robins rallied briefly with Connor forcing Jupp into a save but the main threat remained at the opposite end of the pitch with Shariff proving a handful, while O’Leary’s dominance in the middle of the pitch dampened any hope Evesham held of getting back into contention.

City’s back four was also impressive with Cutchey playing his part to the full despite having a spell off the pitch for treatment to a bloodied nose.

O’Leary shot into the side netting and Shariff stretched to head wide before the lead was increased in the first minute of first half added time.

Furlong, to the right of the penalty area, touched the ball inside to Shields who, in his 50th appearance, ran across the edge of the penalty area and played in Watts. The one-time Brentford youngster had the ball virtually stolen from him Shariff who arrowed a perfect left-footed drive across Bevan from 18 yards and into the corner of the net.

At three goals to the good at the interval City had the game sewn up and this was reflected during a low-key and almost tedious second half.

Shariff sent an early effort wide but the Robins then dominated possession for the next 30 minutes without causing City a single serious problem The sterile nature of the half was underlined by neither goalkeeper having as much as a single on-target shot to save.

Furlong picked up his fourth booking of the season late in the day and was duly substituted to avoid getting into greater trouble. Furlong had started the game as City’s sixth captain in as many games with Cutchey seeing out the final minutes as the seven wearer of the armband in recent games.

With this being remembrance weekend a minute’s silence was observed prior to the kick off.

St Albans City: N.Jupp, M.Harriman, N. Ralph, D.Ijaha, M.Cutchey, J.Gray, Se.Shields, C.O’Leary, P.Furlong (S.Bakare 87), M.Shariff, R.Watts, subs; R.Haworth, D.Hart, R.Moran, J.Ehui.

Booked: Gray, Furlong.

Evesham United: D.Bevan, J.Quaynor, J.Hyde, J.Blake, G.Walker, C.Wilding, C.Connor, C.Panene (K.Vogeli 46), M.Palmer, B.Mackey, L.Pountney, subs; D.Taylor, K.Spencer, A.Swain.

Booked: Palmer, Connor.

Goals: 10 0-1 Quaynor (p), 15 1-1 Furlong, 18 2-1 Furlong, 20 3-1 Own Goal, 45 4-1 Shariff.

Referee: Paul West (Westerham).

Att: 288.