PETERSFIELD TOWN 0, ST ALBANS CITY 1

PETERSFIELD Town’s FA Cup adventure was finally ended by Albans City in front of nearly 400 spectators at Love Lane last Saturday.

The National League South side were pushed to the limit by the Rams, who compete two division lower, and the visitors had to rely on Joe Welch who gave a man-of-the-match display in goal.

A headed goal by Ben Martin, St Albans’ towering centre-back, proved just enough to clinch a money-spinning win and place in the final qualifying round where they will host Weston-super-Mare.

Petersfield brought the best out of the outstanding Welch and came so close to taking the two sides back to Clarence Park.

Playing at this stage of the Cup for the first time in their 22-year history, the Rams forced Welch into three superb saves and frequently got into good wide positions, only to be let down by the final ball.

Petersfield’s better efforts came from outside the area as City dominated inside the 18-yard line, thanks to the aerial prowess of the 6ft 7ins Martin.

At the other end, Tony Ender cut no less an impressive figure than Welch and did as much as anyone to keep his side’s Cup dreams alive.

The visitors, although struggling at the wrong end of their league, adapted well to the sloping Love Lane pitch and, in general, held the upper hand during a lively and entertaining opening 45 minutes.

City, though, had an early scare when a long punt by Ender saw defender Ian Gayle and Petersfield striker Howard Neighbour crash into Welch.

St Albans survived the melee and themselves nearly conceded on 19 minutes as Rams skipper Ryan Woodford headed wide from a Joe Briggs corner.

Petersfield soon had an even better chance to grab the lead. Briggs floated a 30-yard free-kick to the back post where an unmarked Michael Dixon headed back across goal and wide.

That marked a flurry of openings for the Hampshire side and ignited real belief in Love Lane’s biggest crowd of the season that a shock result could be on the cards.

Dixon got the better of John Kyriacou down the left and chipped a pass to Alex Przespoleski whose clever volley was dipping just under the crossbar before the backpedalling Welch tipped the ball over for a corner.

Briggs’ corner caused more problems for City as Woodford headed the ball back across the goalmouth where Jamie Ford and Joe Richardson just failed to apply the final touch.

The match was really warming up. City had appeals for a penalty for handball waved away by referee Chris O’Donnell, while Martin’s half-volley was dramatically clawed away by Ender.

A goal would have seriously dented St Albans’ confidence and they had a narrow escape when Przespoleski robbed James Comley and sent an audacious 50-yard effort skimming over the crossbar.

Again Petersfield came forward. Woodford lifted a delightful ball out to Briggs on the right. This time, Briggs came inside and, from the edge of the penalty area, forced Welch to leap high to his right to concede a corner.

Three minutes before half-time, it was St Albans who made the vital breakthrough.

Skipper Lee Chappell drilled a low pass to Graeme Montgomery who earned himself room to deliver a cross deep into the penalty area.

Martin rose high above Ford beyond the back post to get in a header and Ender, apparently distracted by Luke Allen, delayed his dive and belatedly fell to his right as the ball bounced inside the upright.

The second half lacked the pace and thrills of the first period, but both sides made and missed further good opportunities.

Ender denied Harry Crawford at point-blank range and Allen hammered the rebound high and wide. Louie Theophanous then clipped the home crossbar as City strove to put the tie to bed.

Petersfield saw plenty of the ball in the later stages, but had only one outstanding opportunity to equalise.

It came on 78 minutes when John Kyriacou was booked for a foul on Briggs. Przespoleski took the free-kick and Chappell, attempting to clear, only deflected the ball towards his own goal. That man Welch was alert to the danger and flung himself wide to beat the ball away for another corner.

St Albans ran the clock down and their hard-earned victory assured them of £7,500 so far from the FA prize pool. Petersfield earn £4,500 for their memorable run.

Petersfield: Ender, Hyde, Wain (Thompson 83), Woodford (Wedlake 72), Jackman, Ford, Briggs, Przespoleski, Neighbour, Dixon (Neal 60), Richardson. Subs (not used): Searle, Lowley, Read, Flanighan. Booked: Ford, Thompson.

St Albans City: Welch, Kyriacou, Chappell, Gayle (Locke 46), Martin, Allen, Krans (Thomas 62), Comley, Theophanous (Akinde 74), Crawford, Montgomery. Subs (not used): Sow, Gibson, Hartley, Coulton. Booked: Kyriacou, Akinde.

Referee: Chris O’Donnell (Leighton Buzzard).

Attendance: 370.

Petersfield manager Ian Saunders, a serving soldier, missed the cup match after being called away on duty at short notice.

Basingstoke, 4-2 winners against Chelmsford on Saturday, are drawn at home to Torquay in the fourth qualifying round.

Woking travel to Maidenhead.