Saturday 19th September 2026
FA Cup Second Qualifying round

Witham Town 0 St. Albans City 3 (HT 0 - 1)
Fletcher 3, Effiong 71, Gray 73

1. Blunkell, 2. Riley, 3. Bell, 4. Haysom, 5. Mallett, 6. King, 7. Campbell, 8. Whipps, 9. Bantick, 10. Smith, 11. Elongo.
Subs: 12. Stagg, 14. Taylor, 15. Bain, 16. Salmon, 17. Skubich, 18. Watts, 19. Babia

Witham bow out of FA Cup

Witham's interest in The FA cup is over for another season after they were beaten by a clinical and well disciplined St Albans CIty side at Spa road.

Despite the apparent emphatic scoreline this was a solid Witham performance against their Isthmian Premier league visitors with the scoreline not a true reflection of the fact that Town gave a fine account of themselves until two rapid fire second half goals ended the game as a contest.

Witham would no doubt have been keen to make a quick start but were behind after only three minutes in unfortunate circumstances. A corner from the left was met by the head of Fletcher for St. Albans but despite not making clean contact the ball bounced up and into the top corner of the Witham net.

Despite their opponents playing a league level higher Witham grew into the match and thought they had an equaliser on 18 minutes. Some quick interchanges in the St Albans penalty area saw Jordan Elongo score but the celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.On the half hour mark Sam Bantick struck the frame of the goal following a fine cross by Whipps but once again the offside flag was raised.

As Witham went in search of an equaliser St. Albans had chances of their own. Blunkell in the Town goal needed a strong hand to keep out a shot from Effiong at the expense of a corner before Turner headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Witham's best chance came on the stroke of half time after excellent footwork by Bell in the area found the ball squirt free to Bantick who was only able to prod over the bar under pressure.

The second half continued in a similar vein with both sides evenly matched. St Albans saw a fierce effort flash wide with the keeper rooted to the spot before Olly Bell flicked a header narrowly wide from a corner for the home side.
Tension inside the ground crept up as the half progressed with each side seeking the all important next goal and it was St Albans who achieved it on 71 minutes. A throw from the left was turned in by the lively Effiong and any thought of a WItham comeback was quashed 2 minutes later as Gray turned home from close range to send Witham out.

Next up: Witham travel to Cambridge City in the Isthmian League North Division on Tuesday 22nd September KO 7:45pm before entertaining Wroxham at home Saturday 26th September KO 3pm in the same competition.