Mitchell Weiss says there is only one target for St Albans City this season - going one step further in the National League South than last year.

The striker bagged a hat-trick in Saints' first pre-season win, a resounding 7-2 success at Kings Langley, but personal glory is only a side effect of a shared goal as they look to better defeat in the play-off final last time out.

"Yeah, I think that’s it," said Weiss on the aim of promotion. "Whether that’s through the play-offs, or ideally the first priority is to win the league. Whatever route it is, that is the goal."

Back at his old stomping ground, the 29-year-old striker showed no mercy to his former employers as City came back from an early goal down to crush their step four opponents.

In addition to the treble of Weiss, there was a first goal in Saints colours for Dylan Fage and a second hat-trick of the night scored by former Banbury United man, Gio Rasulo.

He had been listed on the team sheet as a trialist but was confirmed as a permanent signing by David Noble immediately after the game.

The collectively strong performance of the team was something that pleased Weiss.

"It’s been a tough start to pre-season opponents-wise and sometimes performance-wise,” admitted the forward.

"We’ve not been as good as we know we could have been, or should have been, so it’s nice on a personal level and a team level to put in a really good performance as we get closer to the season."

Having ended up on the losing side against higher-tier opposition in each of their three previous pre-season games, the emphatic nature of the victory at Gaywood Park would have been a welcome confidence boost for Noble and his squad, particularly with the opening league game of the season now just over a week away.

"The results haven't affected us," explained Weiss. "I think it’s more the performances that are the focus.

"There’s been good moments in all of the games we’ve had so far, but a lot of it hasn't been up to the standards that we should be.

"It’s nice that tonight, albeit against an opponent from a lower step than our previous opponents, it all came together and we put a good performance on and scored some goals, which is always nice for the confidence of the team.”

On his own goal-scoring ambitions for the upcoming season, Weiss was just as clear.

"I’d like to get to 20 as soon as possible and then go from there," he said.

"Obviously as a striker you want to get goals and you want to get to a tally but as long as the team are doing well, and hopefully my performances are helping that, then that’s what matters at the end of the day."

Saints go to Haringey Borough on Saturday for their final friendly of the summer before Weymouth arrive at Clarence Park on August 5 for the start of the league season.