Louie Theophanous, St Albans City’s major summer signing, took just 36 minutes to find the back of the net for his new club on Thursday as the Saints ended the away leg of their pre-season matches with a far from friendly 2-0 victory over Hitchin Town at Top Field.

Receiving a short ball from fellow new-boy Billy Medlock, Theophanous, fired low into the Hitchin net from around 20 yards with a shot that Canaries keeper Charlie Horlock allowed to slip through his hands.

With his heavily tattooed right arm bandaged, the muscular Theophanous, who for a while earlier in his career was used as body-double for Ronaldo, cut an imposing figure as the spearhead of the City attack.

St Albans have appeared a touch tepid in front of goal this summer, so the 23-year-old, who has previously seen service with Histon, Staines Town, Bromley and Sutton United, arrives at Clarence Park with great expectations that he will provide City’s cutting edge in the forthcoming season.

Against Southern League Premier Division side Hitchin, Theophanous was joined in attack by the diminutive Billy Medlock. The duo offer completely contrasting styles but linked reasonably well at times at Top Field.

Medlock, however, has yet to put to paper for the Saints and the prospect of the former Sutton United striker travelling up to St Albans from his Brighton home could well have a bearing on whether or not he does finally sign up.

City had one other trialist on show on Thursday in the form of former Watford trainee Billy Gibson, who has also played for Yeovil Town, Braintree Town, Cambridge United and, most recently, Hemel Hempstead Town.

For only the second time in the nine games played so far this summer, City fielded Ben Martin and Darren Locke together in the heart of the defence. This allowed James Comley to move forward into midfield.

The match itself was more than occasionally fractious with players carrying out little personal battles all over the park.

Hitchin, in fact, went down to ten men after just 27 minutes when their captain, Alasan Ann, was dismissed for a kick on the lively Medlock.

City ended the game also with just ten-men after Danny Green left the pitch with a suspected broken nose, while Lee Chappell – who got involved in a verbal spat with two sections of the sparse crowd – also limped his way to the dressing rooms.

Hitchin made the first threat on goal when Jamie Arlick sent a header wide from the edge of the penalty area following a free kick by Callum Donnelly.

Theophanous linked smartly with Lewis Hilliard early on and set up the left-sided winger for a low shot from 18 yards that Horlock did well to push away for a corner.

There were times when both sides played the ball around with purpose but these were all too rare in amongst the increasingly frequent confrontations.

The blame for the flashpoints does not rest solely with one team, although the evidence of the summer matches suggest that City midfielder Sam Corcoran will not pick up fewer than the 14 yellow cards that came his way last season.

The first goal was scored on 32 minutes when a Chappell corner was missed at the near post by James Comley but was brought down and poked home by Medlock from little more than a yard out.

Four minutes later and Theophanous ensured that City went into the interval two goals to the good.

Mark Burke’s side struggled to break down the City backline although Jonny McNamara gave the City defence some anxious moments. After twice going close the left-sided midfielder did force substitute City keeper Tom Coulton into a save late in the day.

Just after the hour Theophanous almost added a third when Canaries defender Dan Webb sliced an attempted clearance high in the air. Theophanous was first to the falling ball and with a well-controlled half volley across the goal forced Horlock into a fine one-handed save.

The remainder of the game was tarnished by a succession of petty feuds that rendered the term ‘friendly fixture’ meaningless.

In addition to Medlock, City have yet to sign trialists Kieran Bishop, Kayode Bola and Rod Young.

Right-back Howard Hall has been released, while Wealdstone are confident of securing the signature of striker Connor Calcutt, and Dunstable is tipped as being the next port of call for Greg Ngoyi.

Midfielder Michael Richens was let go last week and Jack Lampe, a summer signing from Concord Rangers, has left the club.

Former England C international Steve Wales has missed the past two matches with a slight leg strain but is expected to be fit for the start of the National League South season on 8th August.

St Albans conclude their friendly fixtures this coming Saturday (1st August) when former Saints boss Garry Hill brings his Conference National League side Woking to Clarence Park. Kick off is at 3pm.

Hitchin Town: C.Horlock, S.Pearson, J.Bickerstaff, A.Ann, D.Webb, L.Kirkpatrick (K.Smith 46), J.McNamara (D.Corran 88), C.Donnelly, J.Arlick (S.Martin 60), S.Barker (W.Wright 69), M.Lench.

St Albans City: J.Welch (T.Coulton 62), J.Kyriacou, L.Chappell (D.Green 55), S.Corcoran, B.Martin (K.Bola 62), D.Locke, B.Gibson, J.Comley (J.Green 62), L.Theophanous (M.Malcolm 62), B.Medlock, L.Hilliard (K.Bishop 62).

Referee: Steve Bates (Elstree).