Preview - St. Albans City (A) - Tuesday 3rd September
Wealdstone are cruising at the top of the National League South and will look to extend their five-point advantage at St. Albans City on Tuesday evening.
The Stones will make the short trip to Clarence Park and face Ian Allinson’s Saints, who will look to make a statement and move higher up the table.
Dean Brennan’s Stones have made a brilliant start to the season, scoring 21 goals in the opening eight games and have built a run of six consecutive wins going into this week.
This fixture will be another test for Wealdstone, St. Albans has not been an easy stomping ground for the Stones in recent seasons.
Wealdstone will come into this fixture with forward players firing and on-form, including striker Ross Lafayette who has netted six and assisted three goals in August.
Players around Lafayette have also been on-form, including Billy Clifford who opened his first month with the Stones with three goals from midfield.
Pacey winger Jacob Mendy has also rushed to four goals, which includes a trademark first-time strike against Maidstone United on Saturday.
St. Albans City are currently 18th in the league standings, but no defeat in their last two and former Northampton striker Joe Iaciofano netting four goals leaves the Saints with early positives.
New Saints signing Darren Foxley has also started firing for Allinson’s side, scoring two in his last two games, following signing from Hungerford Town in the summer.
Impressive results against Concord Rangers and at Slough Town has weathered the Saints storm, they will look to carry on their run and build more momentum on Tuesday.
The Stones can do no-wrong at the moment, winning the last six games and will also be looking to build some more momentum into the second month of the season.
Dean Brennan said after Saturday’s win against Maidstone United that, “I still think we can improve and manage games better”.
The manager’s mindset will not let the Stones to relax at the top, Saturday’s performance ended in a nervy finish which will want to be avoided away from home on Tuesday.
Wealdstone will take confidence from St. Albans’ poor defensive record this season, they haven’t kept a clean sheet since the opening day and will have to combat the highest scoring side in the league so far.
Brennan said that St. Albans were “a similar side to Maidstone” in their playing methods, even though the numbers suggest they are not defensively strong, the Saints will look to defend and keep the Stones out.
Stones midfielder Connor Smith is still a doubt for this game, he took part in full training last Thursday but did not feature in the match day squad against Maidstone last Saturday.
Can the Stones roll on and keep their August momentum going into September?
Preview by Dec O'Reilly
Full match details HERE