A downpour by the coast and a 1-0 loss to Eastbourne Borough didn’t dampen St Albans City joint managers James Gray’s mood on Monday.

Adam Watts scored the only goal of the game in the second minute but, despite a thorough soaking, Gray was in a buoyant mood after Saturday’s loss.

“I wasn’t the start we wanted but we showed a lot of character after that and I thought we were always in the game,” he told Saintsnet.

“I’m really, really truly disappointed not to take anything out of it; on chances alone we were the better side. It shows how a far we’ve come that against the Conference South league leaders we’re disappointed to come away with a defeat. I really do believe we should have got something out of the game.

“We were by far the better team and deserved something from the game.”

He added: “The manner of the defeat I can handle; the Hayes and Yeading loss I can’t. We put everything into the game. We’ve had two games in three days and the boys put in a shift; that second half performance gives us hope against Sutton.”

St Albans started the Bank Holiday Weekend with a 2-1 win over Bishop’s Stortford at Clarence Park. James Comley scored a fantastic opener before Ben Martin broke the deadlock with a 71st minute winner.

“Four points from this weekend would have been nice for us,” admitted Gray.

“We’re happy with where we are. We can take a lot from today’s game and hopefully get it right for the weekend.”

The Saints welcome Sutton United to Clarence Park this Saturday, 3pm kick-off.