Road to Wembley - We say farewell to St Albans

St Albans were knocked out after a replay of the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round by Kettering Town.

After a 0-0 result in the first game at the Saints, the tie was replayed at Kettering's Rockingham Road.

It was to be Kettering's night as OLLIE BURGESS struck first on 20 mins to raise the noise level on the terrraces and put the Poppies 1-0 up. Shortly afterwards JAMIE GOULD Increased the home side's lead to 2-0.

The second-half kicked-off and Town applied more pressure paying dividends almost imediately as BURGESS scored again to put the Poppies into a commanding 3-0 lead. As the visitors tried in vain to make any headway into the match, BURGESS scored complete his hat-trick and put his side 4-0 up and send Kettering through into the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

The night's drama wasn't finished however as THREE St Albans players were sent off in quick succession. Ojelabi on his debut, captain Cousins with an ugly 2-footed challenge and Ada following what was described on the Saints official site, a hideous 18-man melee brought shame on St Albans as they left the competition.

But Kettering will be great to follow on our Road to Wembley as rumours persist that Paul Gascoigne will take over as their new manager following a take-over of the club by a consortium headed by Imraan Ladak. (more)

They will play at home to Conference side Gravesend & Northfleet on 22nd October in the next Round. More on Kettering soon.

St Albans Team (1st game): Bostock, Cousins, Seeby, Castle, Ada, Roddis (Cracknell), Davis, Graham, Hann, Clarke, Martin (Hakim).
Attendance: 882
MoM: Cousins

St Albans Team (Replay): Bostock, Cousins, Seeby, Castle, Ada, Davis, Hann, Davis, Graham (Olejabi), Cracknell, Clarke (Hakim), Martin (Allman).
Attendance: 1220
MoM: No-one.