Striker Sam Merson offered a glimpse of what could lie ahead for St Albans City with flashes of inspiration in an otherwise listless City performance that ground out a dour 1-1 draw with Biggleswade Town at Langford Road on Tuesday night.

Merson, who was only sent into action at half time, scored City’s first goal for 274 minutes and added a welcome directness to an attack that, on the whole, was languid and comfortably contained by Chris Nunn’s Southern League Premier Division side.

St Albans began reasonably well but soon ran out of ideas in temperatures staying close to 30C and by half time had caused the home ‘keeper just one moment of concern with a Lee Chappell free kick that was gathered with ease.

Biggleswade grew stronger as the half wore on with former Saint Inih Effiong giving the City defence problems both on the ground and in the air.

Effiong is no longer the tall skinny kid that he was on his City debut eight years ago. Now he possesses a formidable physique and gave Ben Martin a tough time until being one of a multitude of home players substituted just prior to the hour.

The Waders introduced a number of the Youth team players during the second half and this possibly contributed to St Albans enjoying their most dominant period of the game.

Louie Theophanous and Junior Morias led the attack for the opening 45 minutes but the duo showed no sign of forming the partnership that City hope will help the side to start the new campaign in the free-scoring form that it ended the last one.

In fact Morias, the scorer of just two league goals in 29 league games for Boreham Wood last season, looked more comfortable when moved to a wide position.

City kicked off with Rhys Hoenes wide on the right and often looked to him to unpick the home defence but the speedy former Royston Town player was smartly shackled and denied any opportunities to burst into the penalty area.

Matt Whichelow, on the opposite flank, started promisingly but was one of five players withdrawn at the interval.

Scott Thomas was given an opportunity to reclaim the right-back slot that he filled with great credit towards the end of last season, while Lee Chappell returned to the midfield after missing Saturday’s game with Watford.

Former Biggleswade central defender Andrew Iwediuno started off alongside Ben Martin in the middle of the back four before switching to left-back, in place of Tom Bender, when Josh Hill came on at half time.

Iwediuno continued his good form but also had James Russell to thank for him not scoring an own goal.

Ian Rees, another player familiar to Langford Road, played in the centre of midfield during the opening half and caught the eye with two shots high into the trees behind the Waders goal.

Other players to be given a run out after the interval were central midfielder Billy Gibson, striker Matt Ball and wide-man Shaun Lucien who probed to decent effect down the right.

City’s final substitution saw Christian Londono occupy the right flank.

By virtue of their positive finish to the game St Albans maybe deserved the draw but Biggleswade had looked the most likely winners until then.

The Waders took the lead on 63 minutes with a marvellous effort from Chris Marsh.

Receiving the ball slightly wide of the City penalty area Marsh, from around 20 yards out, sent a perfectly placed shot high into the far corner of the net off the outstretched hand of Saints custodian Russell.

Minutes later and Marsh, after riding two challenges, almost added a second but was thwarted by the legs of Russell.

City drew level on 64 minutes when Merson, who had shown a welcome willingness to take a few pot shots, swept home a low near post cross following Lucien’s ball in from the left.

But that effort aside City only really tested the home keeper on one other occasion and that had much to do with a difficult bounce after a low drive from Morias flew up awkwardly in front of the diving custodian.

Other goal attempts saw Merson, Morias and Lucien shot wide while Martin scooped a corner over the top via his thigh.

St Albans are next in action on Saturday, 23rd July, when National League side Boreham Wood, Ian Allinson’s previous club, are the visitors to Clarence Park. Kick off is at 3pm.

Saints manager Ian Allinson admitted that it was a poor City performance, few would argue.

St Albans City: J.Russell, R.Hoenes (S.Lucien 46), T.Bender (J.Hill 46), L.Chappell, A. Iwediuno (C.Londono 76), B.Martin, M.Whichelow (B.Gibson 46), I.Rees (M.Ball 46), L.Theophanous (S.Merson 46), J.Morias, S.Thomas.