St Albans City responded to Saturday’s loss at Bishop’s Stortford with a 3-0 win over Eastbourne Borough in the Vanarama Conferene South.

Simon Thomas and Steve Wales scored in the first half before Borough, who were poor throughout, compounded their misery with an own goal in the 65th minute.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Saints who were unrecognisable from the sides that drew with Staines Town and lost to Rod Stringers’ Stortford in the last 10 days.

With safety assured, James Gray, managing without Graham Golds, gave starts to John Kyriacou, the Green brothers, Jack and Danny, and kept James Comley at centre-back for the second game running. John Frendo, Jo N’Guessan, James Kaloczi and Howard Hall dropped to the bench after Saturday’s 2-1 loss at the ProkitUK Stadium.

The changes had the desired affect as, after an uneventful 20 minutes, Wales blasted City in front. John Kyriacou clipped a long ball up the right wing for Thomas who headed down to Wales. From 25 yards out, Wales struck the ball sweetly on the half volley past Lewis Carey.

It should have been two goals in two minutes for the Saints but Thomas headed straight at Carey after more good work from Wales.

Eastbourne had a rare chance when Gavin McCallum tried an audacious lob but it cannoned off the top of the bar. Welch breathed a sigh of relief but it was a quiet half for St Albans’ custodian, unlike his opposite number, Carey, who did well to tip Danny Green’s long-range effort around the post and then deny Michael Malcolm when the City striker should have scored.

The second goal arrived five minutes before the break and it was Thomas who got his name on the scoresheet. Jack Green put in a strong challenge to retain possession, the ball ran for Lee Chappell who whipped in a low cross for Thomas to finish.

Green was at the centre of the build up for the third in the 65th minute. He headed a Chappell long throw against a defender and the ball deflected into the net. It capped another impressive performance from the 17-year-old.

It was Thomas’ last involvement came after he’d beat the offside trap and shrugged off Kiran Kinda-John only to disappointingly lift his lob over the goal. He made way for Frendo, who had an early shot, but couldn’t beat Carey. Matt Taylor and Jo N’Guessan came on late, for Malcolm and Sam Corcoran, both of whom were excellent, as Saints saw out a comfortable victory,