22 Sep 2026
Witham 0 St Albans City 3 (FA Cup second qualifying round)
The FA Cup ‘gods’ failed to smile on St Albans City, presenting them with a third successive away tie and opponents from a higher level in the football league pyramid, writes Jess Unwin.
Saints’ reward for getting past the challenge of Essex side Witham on Saturday is an October 3 clash with Harborough Town, who currently sit mid-table in the National League North.
The Leicestershire outfit will prove City’s toughest test yet in the famous old knockout competition as the Bees earned their place in the sixth tier of the game by winning the Premier Division Central of the Southern League last season.
However, the men from Clarence Park won’t be short of confidence after a good weekend win at Witham.
City got off to the best possible start after just four minutes when teenage defender Zak Sowden-Fletcher proved his burgeoning talents include goalscoring by heading home an Alex Dyer corner kick.
Witham, who have been in good form so far in the Isthmian League North, didn’t fold and some swift and clever passing took them into the City box, where claims for a penalty were waved away by the referee.
Moments later, the home team got even closer to levelling the scores when they hit the post and turned home the rebound – only to be denied this time by an offside decision.
On a hard pitch and in a swirling wind at The Simarco Stadium, St Albans had their own chances, falling to Inih Effiong and Darcy Turner, but at half time there was still only one goal separating the two sides, giving Witham hope they could still stage a comeback.
City keeper Sam Donkin blocked one close-range shot before Remi Sutton was called upon to head clear from the St Albans goal-line.
On 62 minutes, it looked like midfielder Turner had got his first goal for the club, but the 20-year-old’s powerful effort sailed just wide and the result remained in the balance.
Two goals in quick succession finally put St Albans into the next round. First, on 71 minutes, Effiong did well to reach a high cross from substitute Kai Brown and score on the volley, taking his goal tally to six in all competitions and making him City’s current leading marksman.
Then, just two minutes later, another teenager, Sam Ayolie, kept his cool in the box to set up Jake Gray, who slotted home to make it 3-0 to Saints.
St Albans manager Gary McCann told the club’s YouTube channel: “In general, we really put a professional performance together. We still tried to play but didn’t take unnecessary risks.”
Pleased with another clean sheet, the fourth in five games, he also had praise for striker Ollie Knight, who made a rare start for City since his arrival from Enfield Town in the summer.
McCann said: “He’s had someone in great form playing ahead of him in Mikey Faulkner and he’s been patient. His application and attitude have been excellent.”
Faulkner and skipper Zane Banton were missing from Saturday’s squad because of, respectively, a calf injury and illness – but Frankie Musonda, who has now recovered from injury, started for the first time this season.
- Charlie Edwards has left Saints by mutual agreement. The midfielder, aged 34, signed in the summer from Brentwood Town but has not been able to nail down a regular spot in City’s matchday starting line-up.
His departure has prompted the loan signing of 18-year-old midfielder Jai-Dea Moulton from Watford’s academy set-up.
Moulton should be available for St Albans this coming Saturday (26) when they have another cup tie. This time it’s the FA Trophy against Bury Town (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk), who play in the Southern League Premier Division Central. Kick-off is 3pm.
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. - Saints players Alex Dyer and Darion Furlong have been called up for international duty with Montserrat. As a result, City’s league matches against Aveley (October 3) and Brentwood Town (October 6) will be rescheduled.
Photos by Jim Standen
