James Gray bemoaned St Albans City’s lack of consistency after the club earned a moral-boosting win over high-flying Basingstoke on Saturday and then suffered a devastating loss to Farnborough two days later.

The mood around the club was at its highest in a long time at The Camrose as Luton Town loanee Charlie Smith scored on his debut to give the Saints a shock win against Jason Bristow’s Basingstoke.

Afterwards, Gray gushed about his team. He said every player was superb and called it a great three points away from home that banished the idea that City can’t beat a team at the top of the table – Basingstoke were second but fell to fourth after the loss.

Fast forward to Monday night and, after seeing his side gift-wrap two goals to Farnborough, fight back to level terms and throw away a point, Gray was despondent.

“It was like Jekyll and Hyde. I’m not happy, I was Saturday. We can’t go from putting in eight or nine [out of 10] performances to five or six,” he said.

“That’s the reason people are at Conference South level and not professional – all of them have been at [professional clubs] but they can’t get that consistency; that’s what I’m after.

“It’s so disappointing. Everyone there on Saturday saw what we can do and if we play like that we’ll be all right this season. If we don’t then it’ll be [tough]. I believe we have got enough to stay in the league but we’re striving for consistency.”

He added: “I’d be happy with players putting in a seven [out of 10 performance] week in week out, but I don’t want eight and nine and then fours, fives and sixes, which has happened too many times.

“We’ll dust ourselves down and go again on Saturday against Havant and Waterlooville - it’s not going to get any easier.”