ST Albans City manager Steve Castle is looking ahead to some dramatic fixtures as the race for Blue Square South survival hots up. Goals from Lee Clarke and Paul Bruce ensured Saints recorded a vital win at Clarence Park on Easter Monday.

ST Albans City manager Steve Castle is looking ahead to some dramatic fixtures as the race for Blue Square South survival hots up.

Goals from Lee Clarke and Paul Bruce ensured Saints recorded a vital win at Clarence Park on Easter Monday against Hayes & Yeading United. Clarke opened the scoring when he deflected a shot from Akanni-Sunday Wasiu into the net. Bruce then settled the contest in the second period with a sensational free kick goal after Simon Martin was brought down by United midfielder Steve Perkins who saw red.

Castle has guided Saints to four wins and a draw from the last five fixtures but incredibly they still remain in the bottom three. Weston-super-Mare and Welling United both recorded home wins on Easter Monday and Maidenhead United and Bognor Regis Town are now looking nervously below.

Defeats for Sutton United and Dorchester Town have left them 13 points and eight points adrift of the Saints respectively. Castle's team occupy 20th spot and are just three points behind Bognor in 16th.

On Saturday, Saints host Havant & Waterlooville while Weston-super-Mare visit title chasers Eastbourne Borough and Maidenhead Untied host Welling United in a potentially enthralling clash. Bognor host Welsh side Newport County.

Saints have three away matches left this season with trips to Welling United on Saturday, April 5, Bognor Regis Town on Saturday, April 12 and Maidenhead United on Tuesday, April 22. All clashes fit the bill as 'relegation six pointers' and Castle said: "We play at Welling which will be a cracking game. I believe we are a better team than them and we also have to go to Bognor Regis Town and Maidenhead United. It will make it exciting for us. We could have done with the extra two points on Saturday (at Thurrock)."

Castle has been tipped as a contender for the Blue Square South Manager of the Month award for March but the boss played down the talk. He said: "I prefer to give the credit to the lads really. They have been absolutely fantastic.