30 Jul 2026
After taking the sting out of the Hornets and then getting a creditable away draw in an eight-goal thriller against Real Bedford, it’s the spicy challenge of local rivals Hemel Hempstead up next for St Albans City, writes Jess Unwin.
The derby match with the Tudors this coming Saturday at Clarence Park is City’s penultimate pre-season fixture and is sure to be the team’s toughest test yet ahead of the start of the 2026-27 league campaign on August 8.
Hemel ended up fifth in the National League South last season, their best-ever finish, but lost their promotion play-off eliminator against Weston-super-Mare on penalties.
Saints manager Gary McCann has had reason to be pleased with the performances in his side’s warm-up games so far but after drawing 4-4 with Real Bedford on Tuesday night he declared: “We can do better.”
A goal from in-from striker Kai Brown and a great long-range strike from defender Jack James put City 2-1 up at half-time against the Pirates. Brown made it 3-1 from the penalty spot but the home side pulled a goal back and then had a man sent off for a second yellow card.
Despite being down to 10 men, the team from the Southern League Premier Division Central clawed their way back to 3-3 and then went ahead in the 85th minute before Darion Furlong headed home just three minutes later to clinch a draw for Saints.
Meanwhile St Albans City’s Saturday friendly with a Watford XI at Clarence Park saw new striker Inih Effiong make his debut and it looked like he would get his first goal within minutes of kick-off, but he hit his shot straight at the advancing Hornets’ goalkeeper.
Just before the break, City deservedly took the lead through Kieran Petrie when a lofted Mikey Faulkner cross found Effiong. His headed attempt caused panic in the Watford defence and Petrie converted into an empty net while he was lying on the ground.
Aside from a Hornets effort that hit the crossbar, Saints were well on top in the first half and continued to impress after the break – even after making a raft of substitutions that included a number of players from the club’s academy set-up.
So, it was a nasty surprise when the visitors drew level against the run of play, thanks to a well-taken goal from Tobi Akinyimika. However, that was the best moment of an otherwise lacklustre Watford performance and Saints quickly reasserted control of the game.
They got their reward when a long throw into the box from Darion Furlong – a tactic that is clearly going to be an important weapon in Saints’ attacking arsenal this season – was met by a header from Ollie Baker, who notched his second goal in pre-season to make the final score 2-1 to the home side.
Afterwards, manager McCann spotlighted the willingness of City’s centre backs and full backs to press forward and help sustain attacking moves.
And he had plenty of praise for Saints’ goalscorers too. He told the club’s YouTube channel: “Keiran’s been in really good form – he’s taken on board what we’ve been looking to improve on what he did last season. He was a constant threat in the middle to final third.”
He added: “The academy youngsters have really acquitted themselves well and Ollie is one of the talented youngsters who are really going to play a part in this coming season.”
• This Saturday’s derby against Hemel Hempstead is a 3pm kick-off at Clarence Park. Tickets are available online now and on the day at the turnstiles.
City’s final warm-up fixture, which will largely feature academy players, is at 7.45pm next Monday (3 August) and is away against another Hertfordshire side, Potters Bar.
The curtain goes up on City’s 2026-27 league campaign on Saturday August 8 with a home game against Chatham Town.
