James Gray was visibly relieved after St Albans City stopped their losing streak with a 2-2 draw against Bromley.

Ben Martin and James Kaloczi, in his first game back from a one-month loan at Wingate and Finchley, scored equalisers for the Saints as they picked up their first point in four games.

After the game, joint manager Gray said: “The outcome was the most important thing. We had to halt the slide from the last three games. I’m well chuffed with the character of the boys tonight; they could have folded but they showed great character to get back in it and each to a man they put a shift in.

“We’ve had a hard run – the last four games have been difficult and taken a lot out of the boys – but it shows what can be achieved if you get your tactics right and the boys applied it to the letter tonight.”

Gray and Graham Golds employed completely new tactics against Bromley as Sean Shields and Steve Wales were replaced by Loick Pires and Geoff Mitchell to form a front three with John Frendo. It resulted in a more direct style of play.

“We needed to change it,” explained Gray.

“It may not have been pretty but there’s more ways to skin a rabbit and we needed a point. It’s not about pretty football, it’s about results. The lads didn’t buy into it at first and I understand where they were coming from but when you’re on a bad run you need to change it.

“We’ve been brave and we will do that. The lads now all have a smile on their faces and confidence is up. We’ve stopped the rot and got a fresh impetus going into the Maidenhead game.”