St Albans City overcame an uncomfortable opening 45 minutes at Wodson Park on Tuesday before kicking off the new season with a 2-1 victory over Isthmian League Division One North side Ware in the 1st Round of the Herts Charity Cup.

City teetered on the brink of an embarrassing start to their campaign before debut goals from Rhys Hoenes and Junior Morias saw off Ken Charlery’s highly promising side.

The starting XI was probably not all that far removed from the City side expected to kick off the league season on Saturday but the manner in which Ware exposed defensive frailties – especially on the back of five goals conceded to lower league opposition in the final two friendlies – will have given Saints boss Ian Allinson plenty to ponder prior to Saturday.

Ware, ahead on eight minutes, had chances to increase their lead before the break and also to snatch a late equaliser, but after creating a good number of first half chance and then dominating the second period St Albans did enough to stretch their unbeaten record against their hosts to a 22nd game.

City rested senior players such as Ben Martin and Lee Chappell while eight players on the pitch at the kick-off were making their debut, including the recently signed on-loan Stevenage duo of Ryan Johnson and Dipo Akinyemi.

Ware started brightly with Josh Oyibo testing City ‘keeper James Russell on 90 seconds.

That early effort, from 25 yards, set the tone for the half with Ware causing numerous problems for a new-look City back four of Andrew Iwediuno (left), Ben Herd (right) and Johnson and Josh Hill in the middle.

City ought to have gained an early lead when a Herd corner from the right was headed out only as far as Johnson whose header into the goalmouth required just a slight touch from Louie Theophanous but the City captain got too much on the ball and somehow lifted it over the target.

The bright opening continued with Ware taking the lead on eight minutes.

Hoenes, sent scampering away down the right by Herd, saw his intended cross-field pass intercepted by Jake Chambers-Shaw who turned neatly away from trouble before launching a long high ball down the middle of the pitch.

Johnson completely misjudged the flight of the ball and experienced Ware striker Gareth Price pounced to seize possession and lead Johnson a merry dance before lashing a left-footed shot past Russell in the City goal.

Price was a constant thorn in City’s side but squandered two opportunities to really make his debut a memorable match.

On 20 minutes, receiving a short pass from Evandro Delgado, Price went wide and then inside a bemused Herd only to fire high over the goal from an angle.

Midway through the half the home goal came under a spell of sustained pressure.

Morias had a shot charged down before teeing up Scott Thomas for a firm drive that Simmonds needed two attempts to gather. Thomas, over the full 90 minutes, maintained the good form he had shown during pre-season.

Both Morias, who is sporting a thumb injury, and Akinyemi were thwarted before Herd, on the right, swept a cross to beyond the back post where Theophanous, some 12 yards from goal, hammered a volley into the ground.

The ball bounced up at some speed and flew past home ‘keeper Joe Simmonds and crashed into the crossbar with the rebound bouncing over the head of Akinyemi.

Chances continued to flow with Morias scooping a free kick high over the bar and Akinyemi ended a good run with scuffed effort that bounced harmlessly wide.

On the half hour Hill carelessly gifted possession straight to Price who, from the half-way line ran at the City defender before shooting low across the goal and wide.

St Albans had a couple of other decent opportunities prior to the break with Theophanous testing Simmonds and Morias stretching to divert the ball over the bar from just a couple of yards out.

Playing down the Wodson Park slope during the second half St Albans wasted no time in applying pressure to the home goal with Cummings using his legs to deny Morias before a Herd free kick went just over the goal.

Ten minutes after the restart and St Albans were back on level terms.

Referee Joel Mannix penalised Thomas Bradbury for pulling Akinyemi’s shirt and with a quickly taken free kick Akinyemi sent Hoenes surging into the penalty area from the right wing.

The former Royston Town player took the ball into his stride and from a sharp angle drove a powerful shot across the diving Simmonds and into the far corner of the net.

On 60 minutes St Albans punished a defensive blunder to forge ahead.

Iwediuno returned a long a long punt by Simmonds back into the Ware half. Left-back Alaa Oujdi attempted to head the ball back to his keeper from quite some distance and only succeeded in sending Morias away.

Taking great care as he bore down on goal Morias calmly slotted the ball to Cummings left and City were ahead.

Sam Merson replaced Morias on 66 minutes and was soon in the thick of the action, as he brought down a long ball by Iwediuno, exchanged passes with fellow substitute Matt Ball, and then slotted the ball home.

But Merson’s debut goal did not stand as an offside flag terminated the celebrations. There was also a suspicion that the effort may have been ruled out for handball when the ball actually struck his shoulder.

Moments later Merson lifted a dipping effort narrowly wide but would, possibly incorrectly, have been called back for offside had the shot gone in. Fortune was not on his side.

Ware launched a spirited late rally with former Saint Aston Goss causing several problems, including one fine effort that went through a crowded penalty area and just wide.

Russell almost handed the home side a route back into the tie with a loose pass from outside of his penalty area that went straight to Brian Haule.

The keeper went scurrying back towards his goal and was relieved to see Haule’s effort sail across the goal and wide.

Seven minutes from time and Haule almost set up an equaliser after beating Herd and Shaun Lucien and chipping the ball into the goalmouth.

Nathan Makuna maybe should have scored but Iwediuno did just enough to put him off and the ball squirmed its way away from danger.

St Albans will be at home to either Hitchin Town or Potters Bar Town in the semi-final.

Speaking after the game Saints manager Ian Allinson revealed that Billy Gibson, Danny Green and Matt Whichelow have not been retained, while terms could not be agreed with Stephane Ngamvoulou.

City begin their third season back in the National League South this coming Saturday, 6th August, with a home fixture against Concord Rangers. Kick-off at Clarence Park is at 3.00pm.

Ware: J.Simmonds, J.Mace (N.Mukuna 46, D.Borraeiro 87), A.Oujdi, J.Chambers-Shaw, M.Rose, T.Bradbury, A.Goss, J.Oyibo (R.Hervel 60), B.Haule, G.Price, E.Delgado, unused subs; J.Coughlan, J.Leavers.

St Albans City: J.Russell, B.Herd, A.Iwediuno, R.Hoenes (S.Lucien 75), J.Hill, R.Johnson, I.Rees, Sc.Thomas, L.Theophanous, J.Morias (S.Merson 66), D.Akinyemi (M.Ball 72), unused subs; L.Chappell, T.Bender.

Booked: Herd (dissent 81).

Goals: 8 1-0 Price, 55 1-1 Hoenes, 60 1-2 Morias.

Referee: Joel Mannix (Watford).