U's secure last minute victory at St Albans
AARON Pierre marked his U's début with a fine finish in stoppage time, to send the U's in to the FA Trophy third round.Nathan Arnold had put United 1-0 up on 32 minutes, but the hosts equalised from the spot on 62 minutes after Ram Marwa was adjudged to have been pushed in the box.
The U's left it late and in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Josh Coulson teed up débutante Pierre, who fired the U's into the third round.
Former Cambridge City man, John Frendo, came close for the hosts early on, his shot ending up just wide of Jason Brown's goal. Liam Hughes was forced off with concussion on 13 minutes, replaced by Luke Berry.
Delano Sam-Yorke cam close to putting the U's in front, his header from Mitch Austin's cross going narrowly over. Arnold then broke the deadlock with a superb finish on 32 minutes from Sam-Yorke's pass.
Karl Ledsham, Josh Gillies and Josh Coulson all came close before the half was out, Paul Bastock in the St Albans goal producing some fine stops to keep them out.
HT: St Albans 0-1 U's
On 61 minutes the scores were level, John Frendo equalised from the spot after Ram Marwa was pushed in the box.
The U's pressed for a winner, but it looked as though the tie would be decided with a replay on Tuesday, until Josh Coulson teed up Pierre who rifled home in the 94th minute.
St Albans were then reduced to ten, Ben Martin received his second yellow card of the afternoon for dissent in the aftermath of the U's winner. The hosts were then swiftly reduced to nine as Chris Henry saw red for a bad challenge on Kevin Roberts.
FT: St Albans 1-2 U's
TEAM: Brown, Roberts, Austin, Coulson, Bonner, Spillane, Ledsham (Appiah 81), Hughes (Berry 13), Gillies (Pierre 69), Sam-Yorke, Arnold. UNUSED: Maxwell.
ATT: 887