First half goals from the impressive Joackim Ehui and striker Brian Haule brought St Albans City’s run of summer friendlies to a perfect end on Saturday as Isthmian League side Potters Bar Town were seen off 2-0 at Parkfield Stadium.

After dominating the early exchanges City looked set to chalk up their most convincing win of the summer but were pegged back after the interval by a keen Town side that struggled to break down a solid Saints defence.

Assistant manager Ken Charlery, in charge of the side until manager Dave Howell returns from New York on Sunday, was satisfied with the run out.

“We had three trialists out there, they didn’t look out of place and I thought we held our own all through. We stuck to our guns and I thought maybe we should have had four or five (goals),” said Charlery.

Howell’s no.2 defended the decision not to play the XI expected to start the new Southern League season next Saturday.

“We have got a few more trialists that just might be better than we’ve got already and we are not going to get another chance to see them,” he said.

St Albans took just two minutes to open the scoring when Ehui swept the ball past home keeper Ryan Burbridge after Rob Haworth had helped on an Adam Fry corner.

Haworth caused the home defence several anxious moments early on although a series of offside decisions limited City attempts on goal.

And it was from a low drive by Haworth, turned round the post by Burbridge, which led to the second goal on 17 minutes as Brian Haule, in spite of facing away from goal, smartly headed home from seven yards following another Fry corner.

With Ehui looking lively down the right flank more goals looked to be in the offing but Burbridge, somewhat surprisingly, saw out the remainder of the half without too many problems.

The Scholars had even less joy going forward themselves although Anton Agdomar headed into the side netting and Joe Bennett forced Phil Carpenter into a low save.

Carpenter was given precious few opportunities to make his case for standing in while first choice keeper Nick Jupp is away in China with the Great Britain squad at the World Student Games, and his half time replacement, Nick Bussey, had not a single on-target shot to contend with.

Bussey, 26, has previous been with Kettering Town, Dagenham & Redbridge and Redditch United and will be looking to feature in Tuesday’s Herts Charity Cup tie at Cheshunt (7.45pm) to prove his worth.

City made eight changes during the second half with new face John Sonuga, a central defender previously with Northwood, Hillingdon Borough and Wealdstone, being one of the most impressive performers.

St Albans began the second period as they did the first, well on top and looking for goals, but both Ehui and Haule were denied by the diving Burbridge.

Potters Bar came on strongly during the half but the City backline ensured that Bussey had a quiet afternoon. Included in the Town side were former Saints Luke Jackaman and Ryan Baronet.

Ken Charley admitted that Jupp will not be the only absentee against Cirencester Town next Saturday as a hamstring injury has also ruled Danny Hart out.

Charlery added that Howell’s return may be slightly delayed after the City manager lost his passport and wallet in the back of a New York cab.

Potters Bar Town: R.Burbridge, L.Williams, M.O’Toole, A.H-Barker, T.Dickie, A.Trialist, J.Bennett, F.Simms, A.Agdomar, L.Jackaman, R.Baronet, subs; J.Gershfield, J.Parratt, D.Paratusic, C.Penny, B.Harrison, P.Klein.

St Albans City: P.Carpenter (N.Bussey 46), S.Bailey (R.Dedman 52), R.Yorke, A.Fry (N.Haisley 68), S.Lyon (J.Sonuga 68), K.Appenteng (M.Cutchey 50), J.Ehui, M.Alebiosu, R.Haworth (J.Walker 73), B.Haule (S.Bakare 61), C.Davis (J.Bent 50).

Referee: Anthony Serano (Hemel Hempstead).