“Professional” was the word St Albans City joint manager James Gray used to describe Saturday’s 3-0 win over Weymouth at Clarence Park.

John Frendo scored goals either side of Peter Dean’s first for the club as City swept the Terras aside in the first half. The game petered out in the second half as Saints cruised to the win, which pushed them up to third in the league.

Speaking after the game, Gray said: “It’s a pleasing result; 3-0 and a clean sheet in front of a good crowd is just what we ordered. We got out of the traps in the first half and caused them problems then cruised through with no injuries and no bookings.

“We didn’t get into top gear, everyone knows that, but we didn’t need to as we’d done it all in the first half. It would have been nice to put on a few more goals fro the supporters but football doesn’t work like that.

“I think [Weymouth] thought it was dead and buried, they were not going to exert themselves so they put two banks of four behind the ball and made it difficult. At half-time it was either stick or twist for them but with a few injuries I think they went for damage limitation.”

Gray highlighted the back four of Ben Martin, Tom Ward, Kerrea Gilbert and Lee Chappell, calling their performances “superb”.

“Ben and Wardy marshalled the defence superbly,” he said.

“Chappers and Kerrea were outstanding as well. The back four take the credit for the way we kept the clean sheet; [Paul Bastock] too.”

City are third in the league heading into tonight’s game with Bideford at Clarence Park where a win could see them finish the night in second place.

“We’re closing in on Chesham United and Hemel Hempstead so [the league has] evened itself out. If we can push ourselves to second it will be a true reflection of where we are.”

Tonight’s game kicks off at 7.45pm. It will also be Bastock’s 300th appearance for City and the club has planned something special to mark the occasion.