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ST ALBANS City head to Havant & Waterlooville this Saturday in positive mood after and impressive display at league leaders Bromley last weekend.

Despite still looking for their first win of the season, City ended Bromley’s perfect start to the campaign with a 1-1 draw at Hayes Lane and could have even taken all three points had Pete Smith’s solo effort not been controversially ruled out for offside.

Despite missing out on all three points at Bromley Castle was pleased that his players had responded to the previous week’s poor performance against Woking.

“The lads responded I think it was quite universal that we let ourselves down last week against Woking and got beaten by the better team,” Castle said afterwards.

“It was really a hiding to nothing here when you’re coming to the table toppers, who haven’t lost a game. For that first half you’d have thought it was the reverse. We were so much on the front, so many plus points.

“I’ve been here a little while now with a similar group of guys and I could probably count on one hand the number of times we haven’t performed. They give their all every week bar a few exceptions.”

Smith’s disallowed goal wasn’t the only decision that left City scratching their head with Castle left perplexed by referee Colin Lymer’s decision to send the City boss to the stands at half time.

“The referee’s told me to get Ben Martin away and then dragged me in and then went about explaining himself about the goal which I never invited him too at all,” explained Castle.

“I’ve said I’d had enough of the explanations and walked away and he in his wisdom decided I couldn’t watch the game from the dugout.”

This weekend’s opponents Havant currently sit in 12th place with 10 points to their name.

The Hawks had started the season by going six games without a win but have burst into life in recent weeks with wins over Thurrock and Hampton & Richmond Borough.

City boss Castle believes that his side’s performance at Bromley will give the team confidence for their trip to Havant.

“We’ve come over and taken on a team that’s won seven out of seven and with a little bit more luck we should have been two or three nil up,” he said.

“We’ve got to take an awful lot of positivity out of that.”

Wes Fogden is Havant’s leading scorer so far this season with three goals to his name while Manny Williams and Mustafa Tiryaki have both grabbed two.

The Herts Advertiser will be continuing its CITYLIVE coverage at Westleigh Park, coverage getting underway at around 2.30pm.