Bury Town saw an early exit from this season’s FA Trophy as errors prove costly.
St Albans got off to a great start when on 17 minutes Inih Effiong played a good ball into space and Kai Brown collected and worked the ball past his marker, composed himself and opened the scoring with a good finish from the edge of the box. On 20 minutes Bury won a free kick in a good position and Tommy Hughes sent the ball into the box and George Quantrell headed high over the bar. On 22 minutes Mikey Faulkner went on a purposeful run forward until Lewis O’Malley made the challenge to win the ball back for Bury. Then on 26 minutes a beautiful cross field ball from Mikey Faulkner found Kai Brown unmarked and in space just outside the box and he went on into the box to score again with another quality finish. Kai Brown completed his impressive ten-minute hat trick a minute later when Mikey Faulkner won the ball and his perfect pass found Brown on his own with just the keeper to beat and he delivered for the hosts. Ollie Canfer gave Bury hope when on 36 minutes he pulled a goal back for Bury from close range after Max Maughn’s initial shot was blocked. That hope started to fade on 43 minutes when Ryan Jolland was sent off with a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Mikey Faulkner when his loose arm caught him in the face. A poor half from Bury had given themselves a mountain to climb second half as St Albans took a man advantage and a commanding lead going into the break.
Half Time: St Albans City 3 Bury Town 1
Second half St Albans controlled the game leaving Bury to defend in numbers and try to counterattack when they could. On 52 minutes St Albans went close to a fourth goal when Ollie Knight picked up the ball in the box with his back to goal and his turn and strike went just wide of the near post. The hosts did not have to wait long however when on 55 minutes Mikey Faulkner sent Ollie Knight on his way forward and his ball into the box found Inih Effiong who netted St Albans fourth goal from close range. Bury had a chance on 60 minutes when Max Maughn went past Remi Sutton and on into the box, he found George Quantrell in space but he ball got stuck under his feet and the chance was gone. St Albans had a great chance to make it five when on 62 minutes a ball to the far post was put back into the center by Jack James and Inih Effiong’s shot was cleared off the goal line by Joe White. Another good chance for the hosts came on 76 minutes when Ollie Knight’s ball into the box was blasted goalward by Inih Effiong and Charlie Beckwith made a solid block from point blank range. On 79 minutes Inih Effiong had another chance to shoot and put the ball just wide of the far post. A tough and frustrating afternoon for ten man Bury Town came to an end and St Albans claimed a comfortable win at the final whistle to go through to the next round.
Full Time: St Albans City 4 Bury Town 1
The David Longman Man of the Match: Max Maughn
Match Rating: 3 / 5
Attendance: 1,106