Gray happy with the St Albans City performance and hopes for a change in luck

St Albans City joint-manager Jimmy Gray cut a glum figure at the end of a game where his side definitely deserved a point.

A goal by Alex Flisher 15 minutes from time condemned City to a 1-0 defeat in their Vanarama National League South game at Maidstone United.

Saints battled well against a side who started the day in fifth position.

Gray said: “I don’t really feel we deserved to lose today, which is good.

“It was a good reaction to Whitehawk away when we got thumped. The commitment, desire and effort from everyone involved was there for everyone to see.

“The lads are a bit disappointed. The game-plan almost worked to a T. We just need a bit of luck.

“We stopped them playing, they’re a good side. I’m disappointed for the boys but pleased with the reaction.”

Gray signalled the performance as a high point and said that, as with all struggling sides, they just needed a bit of luck.

He added: “Everything we worked on this week was geared for this game.

“The time they scored we’d actually nullified them and sort of reduced their ideas on how they were going to get a goal.

“When luck’s going against you, and you’re down there fighting, these things happen.

“I’ve just told the boys we need to stick together, like we have done, the luck will turn.

“There’s too much quality in this team to be where we are.

“It’s tough to take but we’ll stick together and go again.”