By Danny Campos (@FrancisFields)

Photo TIM CARR

St Albans has flouted its attacking flare in a five-goal drubbing of Brunswick City on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Churchill Reserve.

A brace to Ryan McGuffie, and goals to Barry Devlin, Nick Scerri and Daniel Sweeney led the Saints to a simple win over NPL 1 West battlers Brunswick.

But it was Brunswick that almost struck first.

The opening five minutes was not only an opening of the heavens with heavy pouring rain but it also opened up for Brunswick City’s Rema Kurul, when his ambitious long-range effort surprised everybody and had beaten an onlooking Stuart Webster as the ball scraped the crossbar.

The wet conditions settled as Anthony Ianchello in Brunswick’s midfield began to gain control of the match and bring his team mates into play with some short passing.

St Albans struggled to get into the game, until Barry Devlin began to push forward; it was from then on the hosts settled.

As both sides settled, the chances began to flow.

First Ryan McGuffie with a free header from an indirect free kick made Brunswick City goalkeeper Alex Hards work.

At the other end it was Ianchello again with Brunswick City’s best chance of the first half with an unmarked volley that was heading goal-bound, only to have be deflected for a corner.

The breakthrough came after Devlin’s foray forward from an indirect free kick. He got on the end of an impossibly low cross and gave his side the lead.

Besides the goal, it was a lacklustre half in front of goal for both sides as the hosts went into the sheds with a 1-0 cushion.

The second half begun with much more impetus.

Rewards came quick and fast as Ryan McGuffie made the most of sloppy marking with two goals in a matter of four minutes.

It was just what coach Joe Kovacevic had wanted during the break for his Dinamo side; winning second balls and enabling themselves to anticipate play in a much more orderly manner, the home side not only began to look comfortable on the score board but also in confidence.

Tedros Yabio in midfield displayed a commanding performance to dictate both his side’s tempo and distribution; the fourth came with a quick long-ball to Nicholas Scerri who this time managed to get the better of goalkeeper Alex Hards.

Despite a four-goal deficit, Brunswick City substitute Ahmet Turer began to show his presence and tested Webster from both long-range and from inside the 18-yard-box.

St Albans Saints coach Joe Kovacevic said the key to the win was his the calm the more experienced heads could bring, as well as the depth in his squad.

“Brunswick were causing us all sorts of problems so I told my boys to settle the ball and I think that made the difference,” Kovacevic said.

“The key is depth in my squad, at this mid-season point of time I’ve had Damien Peters for example coming off the bench and does great.

“I got boys who will face injury, suspensions and I’ve to make my squad has a consistent campaign heading into the second half of the season.”

“It is important that the more experience guys, we’ve young players coming through our reserves and the challenge is to find balance.

“We need to lead by example, from my part from the sidelines and the players are improving.

“We look forward to next round’s clash against Moreland Zebras and we haven’t played each other so far and I’m looking forward to a physical side that can play really good football.”

Match details:

St Albans 5 (Barry Devlin 24’, Ryan McGuffie 56’, 59’, Nicholas Scerri 74’, Daniel Sweeney 90’) defeated Brunswick City 0

St. Albans Saints: 1. Stuart WEBSTER, 2. Ryan MCGUFFIE, 3. Yew OTUO-ACHEAMPONG (13. Anthony BORAS 49’), 5. Tedros YABIO (12. Damien PETERS 74’), 7. Trent WATERSON, 8. Ross HARVEY, 9. Barry DEVLIN, 11. Nicholas SCERRI, 15. Konrad DORBRASZKIEWICZ (20. Ante KOZUL 74’), 18. Ben SHAPER, 23. Daniel SWEENEY.

Unused Substitutes: 10. Tomislav TRBUHOVIC, 21. John SCOLLO.

Yellow Cards: Daniel Sweeney 86’

Brunswick City: 34. Alex HARDS, 52. Reha KURUL, 29. Luca AOUN, 45. Frank SERRATORE, 47. Dennis SADIK, 60. Juan PORTILLO, 24. Matthew MURPHY, 49. Pete.r CONSTANTINOU, 6. Dimitri VITHOULKAS, 48. Nick TZOULIS, (9. Ahmet TURER), 13. Anthony IANCHELLO

Unused Substitutes: 42. George MARKELIS, 80. Alessandro VERRATTI, 15. Jake CREA.

Yellow Cards:

Red Cards: Nil.