A number of Hadley players may have earned trials with St Albans City after catching the managers’ eye on Tuesday.

Micky Hazzard’s side outshoned their SSML Premier Division status in their Herts Senior Cup loss to the Saints and, at times, they looked incredibly impressive. For a 20 minute spell, when they were already 2-0 up, they pushed forward without fear and only the woodwork denied them from giving St Albans an even bigger mountain to climb and possibly earning a place in the semi-final.

Dom Petrucci, a former St Albans player, smashed a free-kick off the bar before slamming a penalty into the top corner. His best was yet to come though. A defensive mix-up presented him with a chance from 40 yards and, without hesitation, he hit the ball over Tom Coulton’s head. He soaked up the applause he got from both sets of fans.

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Jernade Meade, who has a Champions’ League appearance against Olympiacos to his name, also impressed, running at the back four and causing all sorts of problems.

In the end, City showed the gulf in leagues and ran out 3-2 winners thanks John Frendo goals either side of trialist Michael Malcolm. Still, Gray was impressed.

“Little J did well and Dom scored his goals well,” he said. “There are players [at Hadley] but they have to be right for us. I don’t know situation and why they’re at that level.

“They could probably step up a bit. To the Conference South? On that showing them probably could. For now, they’ll be Hadley player but they did impress me.”