Rooks' huff has no puff

The game began at a frenetic pace and in the flurry of opening exchanges Lewes stretched the Saints in every department, causing the home side to lose their shape. But poor finishing cost the visitors dear and had Paul Wilkerson not performed well in goal the defeat would have been heavier.

Initially the Lewes defence looked capable of soaking up anything thrown at them, but thriving on the bustle of midfield dynamo Tom Davis the Saints began threading quality passes together.

And it was St Albans who had the first chance of note when Wilkerson saved from wide man Matt Hann and dived bravely to gather from the rebound. The Lewes goalkeeper then kept his side in the game when tipping over a looping free-kick from Mark Graham. On 34 minutes the Rooks appeared dazed when Hann hit the woodwork.

St Albans went up a gear and on the stroke of half-time full back Chris Seeby showed speed of thought against former Saint Djoumin Sangare. Blocking the Frenchman's attempted clearance, Seeby saw the ball fall to the always-dangerous Hann, who drilled crisply past Wilkerson to make it 1-0.

The first half had been largely even. King looked to have motivated his side during the break and they emerged with purpose and spirit as Coulson began feeding John Robinson with quality balls. And the visitors nearly pulled one back through an own goal when Peter Castle made a hash of a defensive header.

King opted for a double substitution on 58 minutes when captain Paul Kennett and John Robinson made way for Lee Farrell and Owen Price. And his side immediately looked more potent up front with Farrell's pace posing problems.

But Lewes' best chance all afternoon was squandered after Sangare, Hooper and Beckford combined superbly to leave Jean-Michel Sigere on goal only for the former Bordeaux target man to blast the ball over the crossbar. It was now end-to-end stuff and Hann missed with a volley moments later.

St Albans' second goal on 70 minutes was exquisitely skilful as Lee Clarke directed a cushioned header into the path of Simon Martin, who produced an audacious lob with the outside of his foot. Given his height Wilkerson is hardly a sucker for such things and was well positioned but the finish gave him no chance.

Lewes were still working hard and minutes later Sigere left Farrell in front of goal. The youngster had two opportunities to toe-poke at goal but both were difficult as Saints keeper Paul Bastock advanced and smothered the second chance from the rebound.

Lewes were often inconsistent, the problem typified by Dean Hooper who went from phases of committed tackling and quality passes (often first touch) to periods in which he was subdued and his distribution wayward.

Lewes: Wilkerson, Lovett, Coulson, Sangare, S Robinson, Harkin, Hooper, Kennett (Farrell 58), Beckford, Sigere, J Robinson (Price 58). Subs not used: Foyewa, Ellison-Hustwick, Holligan.