09 Sep 2026
Hashtag United 0 St Albans City 2 (FA Cup first qualifying round, replay)
Report by Jess Unwin, photos by Jim Standen
It may have looked on paper like the proverbial banana skin, but Saints made sure they didn’t slip up against a previously unbeaten Hashtag side with match-winning contributions from keeper Sam Donkin and young striker Mikey Faulkner, writes Jess Unwin.
A string of Donkin saves and Faulkner’s role in setting up City’s first goal before scoring the second himself ensured City’s FA Cup journey continues with a second qualifying round match away at Witham Town on September 19.
But that progression proved far from straightforward after Hashtag, currently top of the Isthmian League North Division with maximum points from their opening games, took this tie to a replay, thanks to their weekend 0-0 draw at Clarence Park.
On Tuesday night, Donkin was called into action to make his first important save after just 12 minutes at the Techsoc.com Stadium in Barkingside, east London. Less than 10 minutes later, he came to the rescue again, tipping another United effort over the bar.
On 36 minutes, the home side’s Misha Djemaili shot over the bar before Donkin was forced to save again, keeping out a strike from the edge of the penalty area. When Donkin finally was beaten by a chipped Hashtag attempt in first half added time, the ball landed just wide of the post – to the relief of the travelling City supporters.
Saints started the second half strongly. Left back Lewis Page headed Alex Dyer’s cross just wide and then, moments later, skipper Zane Banton’s effort was saved.
But it was Inih Effiong who broke the deadlock on 56 minutes after a great run by Faulkner set up Jake Gray to whip in a cross for the powerful striker to head home.
Twenty minutes later, the impressive Faulkner, who has quickly emerged as a game-changing player for City, cut inside from a wide position to send his effort into the bottom left corner and effectively put a St Albans victory beyond doubt.
Had St Albans failed in beating Hashtag in Tuesday night’s replay they would surely have rued missed chances, including hitting the crossbar three times, in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Clarence Park.
However, the match was far from one-sided. A quarter of an hour into the first half, Darion Furlong did really well to block a goal-bound Hashtag shot. Ten minutes later, back-from-injury Lewis Page squared a pass to St Albans striker Kai Brown, who hit the crossbar.
Sam Ayolie fired narrowly wide for Saints on the half hour and then City keeper Sam Donkin was tested by a swerving long-range effort from United.
Shortly after the restart, the home side nearly broke the deadlock when Mikey Faulkner’s header was tipped onto and over the bar by United’s keeper.
Zak Sowden-Fletcher was called upon to make a late goal-saving clearance on 82 minutes before Faulkner was denied once more by a fine save.
In the dying moments of added time, there was one final moment of drama in the sunshine for the 1,004 crowd at Clarence Park as debutant Darcy Turner crashed his shot against the bar.
St Albans City FC return to Isthmian League Premier Division action with a home game against Three Bridges on Saturday (September 12). Kick-off is 3pm. On Tuesday (15), they travel to the home of Cray Wanderers. Kick-off is 7.45pm. Match tickets are now available from the club’s newly launched St Albans City Football Club mobile phone app, as well as from City’s website and, of course, at the turnstiles on the day.
With the news that Kieran Petrie is likely to be out injured for a lengthy spell, Saints have further bolstered their squad with the signing of midfielder Darcy Turner, who made his first two appearances for City in the FA Cup matches against Hashtag United. The 20-year-old has dual Dutch/English nationality, and his football journey so far has included playing in the Netherlands for the Ajax under-17 team, Utrecht under-18 side and most recently in the Go Ahead Eagles under-21s set-up.
