A late goal gave St Albans the win in this penultimate friendly at Clarence Park.
The first chance of the match for the Fleet came with five minutes on the clock as Charlie Seaman whipped a ball towards the far post as he attempted to reach Dom Samuel who arrived towards the target but the No.14 couldn’t quite connect. Moments later the Fleet attacked once again, this time it was George Moncur who looked to link up with Samuel with the striker’s effort deflected out for a corner.
A chance for Gene Kennedy to put the Fleet in front came when a short free-kick from Ben Coker was played wide to Seaman who then sent the ball into area. Kennedy arrived in front of goal and dispatched his shot but Magnus Norman made the comfortable save.
Gio Bellagambi was called into action in the 23rd minute to deny a shot from Zane Banton. Neither team managed a threatening shot for the remainder of the half until the closing seconds when Maxx Manktelow dispatched an effort from a tight angle but saw that one palmed away by Norman.
It ended goalless as the first-half concluded and once again the Fleet began the second-half on the front foot. Norman once again was busy as he cleared Josh Coley’s effort before then punching away the delivery from Seaman minutes later.
Coley once again came close to finding the opener when his next effort was millimetres wide of the mark.
An opener did arrive but it would be for the hosts as Riley Scott tucked away an effort following a corner delivery with 74 minutes on the clock.
Samuel did find the back of the net but was deemed to be in an offside position in the build-up as the advantage remained in favour of St Albans.
That’s the way it stayed and now the Fleet return to action on Saturday at Dartford in the final pre-season fixture.
EUFC: Bellagambi, Seaman (Passley 69), Coker, Dallison, Olagunju (Nelson 60), Manktelow, Kennedy, Barnes (Peake 69), Moncur, Coley, Samuel (Cosgrave 81). Subs: Cousins, Anthony
SACFC: Norman (Boxer 81), Page (Mather 60), Sweet, Bostwick (James 60), Gauthier, Dyer (Ralfe 60), Kone, Perez-Duah (Bone 60), Banton (Scott 60), Wall (Jennings 60), Sery (Sippetts 60).
