Chelmsford City had their colours lowered for the first time this season on Tuesday as St Albans City bounced back from the heavy weekend reversal at Bath to defeat Rod Stringer’s highly-fancied Clarets 2-1 in an incident packed National League South encounter at Clarence Park.

The quality of the football on show was low but the game more than made up for that through the sheer high number of talking points.

Chelmsford had two goals disallowed for offside while St Albans had one for a foul on the ‘keeper, both sides also had strong penalty appeals dismissed.

Former Saints custodian Joe Welch was also fortunate not to be dismissed when bringing down Sam Merson on the edge of the penalty area.

Both teams made one change from their weekend games. St Albans brought in Shaun Lucien for Ian Rees in midfield, while Chelmsford replaced Shamir Mullings with Hugo Skepelhorn, only for the two players to reverse roles on 54 minutes.

Chelmsford dominated the early play with Shaun Jeffers heading over and then, when latching onto a long ball behind the Saints defence, the Clarets striker attempted to lob the out-rushing James Russell the City keeper got a just firm enough touch to push the ball out for a corner.

It was just one of a flurry of corners won by the visitors early on but resolute defending kept the Clarets at bay.

The one time that City threatened to crack; when Russell, under pressure from Chris Bush, dropped Robbie Willmott’s set-piece, Scott Thomas was on hand to clear City’s lines.

Thomas’s clearance was helped all the way back to Welch and from his long kick Bagasan Graham headed the ball into the penalty area for Jeffers to clip it away from Ryan Johnson only to collide with Tom Bender.

It appeared to be a certain penalty but referee Colin Lymer thought differently and not only handed St Albans a free kick but also booked Jeffers for diving.

Having been on the back foot since the kick-off St Albans got forward to cause mayhem in the Clarets goalmouth on 18 minutes.

City skipper Lee Chappell sent a trademark long throw from the Saints left deep into the Chelmsford penalty area for Ben Martin to send a powerful into the crossbar.

Dipo Akinyemi challenged for the rebound but, under pressure from Ashly Miller and Anthony Church, headed a yard wide.

And it was from another Chappell missile into the Chelmsford goalmouth on 29 minutes that St Albans took the lead.

Whilst most attention was focused on one-time Claret Martin his central defensive partner Ryan Johnson nipped in behind him to glance a header downwards and into the net from five yards, although the final touch may have been provided by Dipo Akinyemi.

City soon had an opportunity to increase the lead when a cross by Akinyemi deflected along the edge of the penalty area and was pounced upon by Chappell whose controlled shot, with his weaker right foot, was safely held by Welch.

As the half wore on the passing of both sides continued to be erratic but it did little to slow the accumulation of incidents.

Martin was fortunate to escape a booking when bringing down Skepelhorn after the striker had whipped the ball away from Ben Herd, the speed with which Skepelhorn got to his feet to continue his run probably saved Martin a caution.

St Albans did get the ball into the net for a second time right on half time but Martin, when forcing home Herd’s cross, was penalised for putting an arm into the face of Welch.

Chelmsford wasted no time in getting back down the other end and the busy Willmott, who terrorised City all evening on the right flank, caused problems with an excellent cross that looped over Russell but was headed off the goalline by Martin before Jeffers could head home.

City counter-attacked with Louie Theophanous threading an excellent ball through to Akinyemi whose early goal-bound angled drive was beaten away by Welch’s right knee.

Chelmsford began the second half pretty much as they had the first in pushing St Albans back, and just prior to the hour looked to have pulled level when yet one more cross was sent to the back post by Willmott and this time Max Cornhill headed home only to be pulled up for offside.

Four minutes later, the 63rd, St Albans took a firm grip on the game with a somewhat soft second goal following a foul on Lucien by Bush some 12 yards inside the Chelmsford half.

Herd floated the free-kick to around ten yards from the Chelmsford goal where Martin rose above Bush to send a header down next to Welch’s feet where the keeper was unable to get to and the ball bounced gently into the Hatfield Road goal.

Chelmsford hit back immediately with a long ball by Walsh being headed away by Johnson but only as far as Graham whose fierce shot was parried by Russell.

The rebound went straight to Jeffers but his unconvincing follow up was blocked by Russell’s right foot.

With 15 minutes remaining an offside flag again dashed Chelmsford hopes of a comeback after Walsh had headed home from Willmott’s perfectly placed set-piece.

A minute later and Welch looked to be heading for an early bath when rushing to clear a loose back pass by Bush he caught Merson just as the City substitute touched the ball past him.

Referee Colin Lymer deemed Merson to be running away from goal and therefore it was not a goal scoring opportunity, so a yellow card was all he brandished at the relieved Welch.

Akinyemi curled the free kick low past the Clarets wall but it lacked the required venom to seriously trouble Welch.

Still the incidents flowed with Chelmsford reducing the deficit on 79 minutes and once again it was a long throw that led to the goal.

Bush sent the ball into the heart of the home penalty area from in front of the main stand. Jeffers and Mullings were unmarked and Mullings duly headed in with a nicely executed header to Russell’s right from right yards.

City’s frontline of Theophanous, Akinyemi and Junior Morias were starved of good service all night but Morias believe he should have had a penalty when tripped by Bush on 83 minutes.

One was not forthcoming and when the former Boreham Wood striker took the law into his own hands to seek justice he was rightly booked for a wild challenge on Walsh.

During the remaining 12 minutes, five of which were added time, St Albans continued to defend as they had done all night, superbly.

It most certainly was not pretty, but it was effective with the nearest Chelmsford coming to saving the match being a long range effort from Church that drifted comfortably wide.

St Albans, now eighth in the table, head off to Kent on Saturday (20th Aug) searching for their first away success of the season when they visit bottom but one Welling United. Kick off at Park View Road is at 3pm.

Relegated from the National League last season, Welling picked up their first point on Tuesday with a draw at East Thurrock United.

Saints manager Ian Allinson will need to shuffle his pack as right-back Ben Herd serves a one-match ban and Ben Martin is unavailable for ten days.

Josh Hill could be in line for a recall but firstly has to shake off an injury picked up at Bath.

Allinson has bolstered his squad, however, with the signing of 18-year-old former first year Stevenage professional George Casey. Last season Casey, who can play in midfield or defence, had loan spells with St Neots Town and Chesham United.

St Albans City: J.Russell, B.Herd, T.Bender, L.Chappell, B.Martin, R.Johnson, S.Lucien (S.Merson 64), Sc.Thomas, L.Theophanous (I.Rees 90), J.Morias, D.Akinyemi, subs not used: M.Ball, A.Iwediuno, and R.Hoenes.

Booked: Morias.

Chelmsford City: J.Welch, A.Miller, D.Blanchett, M.Cornhill (F.Merrifield 73), C.Bush, M.Haines (P.Walsh 35), R.Willmott, A.Church, S.Jeffers, H.Skepelhorn (S.Mullings 54), B.Graham, subs not used: L.Daley, J.Reid.

Booked: Jeffers, Welch.

Referee: Colin Lymer (Mayford).

Att: 561.