Dunn strike isn’t enough as Chichester City and St Albans City share spoils
Chichester and St Albans had to settle for a share of the spoils as a tale of two cities finished all square at Oaklands Park.
City were without Ryan Davidson and Curtis Da Costa for this mid-table Isthmian premier clash, both serving suspensions after their late red cards in the 3-1 win against Cray Wanderers, but Rob Hutchings returned at left-back on the other side to Zac Jeanes in front of keeper Jasper Briggs.
Joe Clarke slotted in at centre back alongside Ben Pashley and Joe Moore, Emmett Dunn, Isaac Bello, Misha Djemaili and Harry Bridle lined up in the centre of the park with Jimmy Wild up top.
Olly Munt, Ethan Prichard, Lloyd Rowlatt, Jamie Horncastle and Freddie Sarson were on the bench.
The Lillywhites got off to a good start as Djemaili out-muscled his marker and Briggs was out swiftly to clear at the Tennis Club end.
Wild had the first chance three minutes in following a slick attack, and the Saints conceded a corner that Hutchings delivered, although custodian Sam Donkin claimed it.
The dangerous Kieran Petrie hit a cross/shot off target in the fifth minute and the away team won a corner that led to another by Lewis Page which Wild headed clear. Former Bognor player Jasper Mather got in but couldn’t beat Clarke to the ball.
MoM Moore played a neat pass to Wild who crossed and won a corner on 12. The resulting kick led to the opening goal as Dunn ghosted in and sidefooted home for 1-0.
Donkin made a brilliant save when the hosts thought they might have doubled their lead and Bridle had a shot blocked.
Coach Darin Killpartrick and the Chi physios came on to the pitch when Bridle went down apparently having popped his collarbone, and the No11 had to be replaced by Prichard.
City caught their visitors offside a couple of times before Ryley Scott pulled one wide. Donkin denied Wild’s well-taken set-piece just after the half hour and at the other end Briggs calmly saved from Petrie.
A super pass through the middle teed Sam Smart up for a clinical finish beyond the out-stretched Briggs to make it 1-1.
Bello linked up with Wild and charged down the flank although his cross was cleared. Hutchings conceded a corner as the visitors probed that Jack James took, and the threat posed by Mather in the box was snuffed out.
Moore was unfairly dragged down by St Albans skipper Zane Banton in time added on.
Prichard got caught by Jake Grante a minute into the second period – nothing doing, according to the ref.
Clarke blasted a shot over the bar in the 48th minute and Dunn got bundled over by Banton before Bello won a corner that Hutchings delivered. Donkin claimed Prichard’s kick and Sonny Hart got away with a challenge on Djemaili.
A lovely backheel in an exchange between Wild and Prichard almost led to an opportunity on the hour – and Mather couldn’t get his header on target from Smart’s cross.
A cheeky flick between Dunn and Hutchings led to a hit that went over the woodwork before Rowlatt replaced Djemaili. Alex Wall came on for Scott as the visitors also rejigged.
Monserrat international Alex Dyer got a talking to by the referee for a foul on Rowlatt. A skilful turn by Dunn led to Hutchings winning Chi a corner that Prichard took which got headed out.
The hosts conceded two free kicks late on before Wall thought he had scored on 88 but it was offside. The visitors ramped it up and won a corner that City struggled to clear only for the officials to, perhaps unfairly, rule out another goal for a foul on Briggs.