Match preview: St Albans City (A)

Tomorrow, Luke Garrard’s men travel to local rivals St Albans City in the Vanarama National League South, kicking off at 15:00.

Last Season for the Saints

St Albans City finished mid-table last season, having been on track for a play-off position in the latter stages. Considering they had reached the play-offs in the previous season, the Saints may have felt disappointed not to secure a top-seven finish.

Form Guide

Tomorrow’s hosts have proven hard to beat in recent weeks, losing just once in their last eight games. This run has helped the Saints edge closer to safety, sitting only four points behind 20th-placed Enfield. Their last five matches have included two wins, two draws, and one defeat.

This run began with back-to-back 1-1 draws against mid-table side Tonbridge Angels and fellow strugglers Welling United. Consecutive draws were then followed by consecutive wins, with the first a tight 1-0 victory over Slough Town. The three points was secured with a 92nd-minute winner from Alfie Bendle, which resulted with their first win since New Year’s Day. A solid away win at Bath City followed before their most recent match, a 2-1 defeat at Hemel Hempstead.

After a goalless first half, the Tudors took the lead early in the second through Montserrat international Brandon Barzey. The Saints responded in the 65th minute with a goal from Zane Banton, but they couldn’t hold on, conceding a 95th-minute winner. Former Crawley Town defender Mazeed Ogungbo latched onto a late free-kick with a low strike, securing the win for Hemel Hempstead.

Last Time We Met

The Wood secured a dominant win over St Albans City, thanks to a second-half hat-trick from Kwesi Appiah. The first half saw both sides create chances, with Wood hitting the bar and Nathan Ashmore making key saves. After a goalless first half, Appiah broke the deadlock with a bullet header just before the hour. He doubled the lead on 70 minutes and completed his hat-trick with a fine curling strike. Wood remained in control, with Appiah missing a late chance. His resurgence has been key for Wood, who claimed local bragging rights in emphatic fashion.

One to Watch

Shaun Jeffers has been the Saints’ star man since joining the club in July 2020. The striker, who spent the 2017/18 season at the Wood, holds the record for most goals in the Vanarama National League South with 130, with 93 of which have come for St Albans City.

The Wood

The Wood will be aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time in a month after securing victory in our previous match at home against high-flying Eastbourne Borough. Luke Garrard’s men have endured the toughest run since the gaffer returned to the club in September 2024, suffering five defeats in seven games across all competitions. This poor form has seen the Wood drop to fifth in the Vanarama National League South and exit the Isuzu FA Trophy.

A strong win against Eastbourne Borough last time out could prove a turning point. The Sports controlled possession early on, earning a penalty in the 33rd minute. However, Nathan Ashmore kept the game level, parrying away George Alexander’s spot-kick. The penalty seemed to spark the Wood into life, as they controlled the remainder of the match. A flurry of goals in five minutes, including a brace from Kwesi Appiah and a spectacular chip from Matt Rush, sealed an important three points in our push for the Vanarama National League South title.

Pre-match interview

Ticket information

Ticket information for tomorrow afternoon’s fixture can be found here.

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