Individual errors and fitness combine as Grimsby dump St Albans City out of the FA Cup

Defensive errors and individual mistakes cost St Albans City a place in the FA Cup second round according to joint-manager Jimmy Gray.

Two goals down at half-time, Saints give themselves a chance of gaining at least a replay when Louie Theophanous scored.

But three late goals ended that dream and Gray felt that while Grimsby were a step above his side, St Albans did themselves no favours.

He said: “By the end of it they just ground us down. But we did gift them some goals today.

“I wasn’t happy to concede probably three, and maybe four, of the goals, which isn’t good enough if you’re not putting the ball in at the other end.

“There was a spell in the second half where we got our goal and our tails were up. The third goal was a real killer for us, it set us right back, and fitness told in the last 10 minutes.

“It wasn’t meant to be but we can take plenty of positives out of the game.”

In Gray’s eyes, the fact Grimsby are a professional outfit made a massive difference between the two teams.

He said: “Looking at where Grimsby are fitness-wise, we’re never going to be able to match that because we’re part-time. We train twice a week but I do think there’s two or three boys who may need to work on their fitness.

“So we’ll work hard on Monday night, probably won’t get the balls out. It isn’t a punishment, just that we do need to work on our fitness.”

His last word was for the 117 supporters who made the trip up from Hertfordshire.

“I’m pleased for them,” he admitted. “They had an opportunity to jump around and celebrate and it probably give them a little bit of hope at 2-1 that we might get back into the game.

“But it wasn’t meant to be.

“But I’m glad they got to see a goal otherwise it would have been a long journey.”