St Albans Schools win two games from two at Newbury

Both the Yellows and Blues today claimed victory in tough matches against Newbury.

The Yellows were first up in a double result game in the Cotswold & Southern Counties League.

After a strong start, the game settled but it was the young Saints who took the lead.

Keeper turned outfield player for the day, Lucien Thompson, pressured the opposition keeper who slammed the ball against him and into the net.

Newbury responded early in the second half with a double but Joshua John took his chance to equalise well.

Newbury went down the other end and went ahead before St Albans' top scorer Franky Osborne levelled.

And on the stroke of full-time, Nick Foster smashed home the winner from 25 yards.

The player of the match went to birthday boy Zach Landau.

The Blues were up next in the Geoff Richards League and unfortunately looked 2nd best in the first half, their best chance falling to Zayne Chapman who shot narrowly wide.

The second half started fairly equally with limited chances until Tristan Phillips and Laz Gordon started getting on the ball more.

Hector Parsons was his usual solid self at centre-back and the Blues took control of the game in the last 20 minutes.

Man of the match Chapman went close again, as did Gordon, before the opening goal arrived with eight minutes to go.

Lewis Norton pounced on a loose ball in the area and finished well into the bottom corner before the win was sealed in the last minute when Bobby Barratt crossed to Gordon who smashed the ball into the top of the net.

St Albans Yellows at the Arsenal Academy. Picture: ST ALBANS SCHOOLS (Image: St Albans Schools FA) The Yellows were then back in action at Hale End, home of Arsenal Academy, in a mini festival.

First up was Waltham Forest, where a late goal for the opposition settled it.

Wandsworth were up next and a good 1-1 draw, saw the confidence rise.

The next game against South London was a belter, with the Yellows going 2-0 up and playing well, only for South London to pull one back and make it a nervy last minute.

However Saints held on to collect their first win of the day.

The next game against Havering saw another hard working display.

They were leading 2-1 until the final minute when Havering equalised, and then they won the shoot-out to go through.

That left Saints with another game with South London and once again they won 2-1.

Goal scorers over the day were Ethan Rance (three), Franky Osborne (two), Harry Newman and Joshua John.

Hector Parsons and Tristan Phillips stepped up from the Blues to play.