21 Jan 2026
St Albans City 4 Hashtag United 1 (Isthmian League Premier Division)
Report by Jess Unwin, photos by Jim Standen
St Albans City climbed to ninth place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table after a thumping 4-1 home win against Hashtag United on Tuesday evening.
Saints now have 35 points, so with 17 games left to play they’re currently nine points short of the pack of teams chasing a promotion play-off spot.
Captain Zane Banton started the scoring, converting a penalty on 23 minutes before wing-back Lewis Page made it 2-0 on 38 minutes when Hashtag failed to clear their lines after a corner.
Nathan Wilson hit back for the visitors after 50 minutes, prompting a nervy spell for the men in yellow, but City regained control thanks to a second goal from Banton on 73 minutes.
Just five minutes later, City’s top-scorer Leo Sery produced the goal of the game, bending a great shot into the net in front of the Clarence Park crowd of 541.
Saints Manager Gary McCann told the club’s social media that the 4-1 win was “the perfect pick-me-up after Saturday’s disappointment” and described Sery’s goal as “sublime”.
Next up for St Albans in the league is a 3pm away game this Saturday against Lewes.
McCann said: “It’s another tough game but they’re all tough in this division and Lewes will be no different.”
- Goalkeeper Gabriel Ortelli’s loan has been extended for an extra 28 days.
- The date of St Albans City’s semi-final match in the Herts Senior Cup is yet to be finalised but should be in early February against Bishop’s Stortford or Hadley.
