He admitted it wasn’t pretty but St Albans City’s assistant manager Lee Allinson is looking forward to just what a big cup run could bring after their 2-1 win away to Whitehawk in the FA Trophy.

Herts Advertiser: St Albans City's David Noble goes airborne after a Whitehawk tackle. Picture: BOB WALKLEYSt Albans City's David Noble goes airborne after a Whitehawk tackle. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

Allinson, flying solo in the dugout as dad Ian recovers from a hernia operation, saw goals from Zane Banton and Kieran Monlouis put Saints into the last 32 of the competition.

With Whitehawk suffering at the bottom of the Vanarama National League South, some were predicting an easy win.

But that was certainly not the case at the Enclosed Ground.

“To be honest I knew it was going to be a tough game with the pitch and the conditions,” said Allinson.

Herts Advertiser: Kieran Monlouis (hidden) scores St Albans City's second goal. Picture: BOB WALKLEYKieran Monlouis (hidden) scores St Albans City's second goal. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“But you have to give respect to Whitehawk as they really had a go at us.

“They’ve got players who can win games and I don’t think we respected them enough.

“You have to come to places like this and overcome everything and grind the result out.

“They had 10 minutes after their goal where they could have scored another and we didn’t defend well but we pulled ourselves out of it and got the winner.

Herts Advertiser: Zane Banton sends St Albans City into the lead against Whitehawk in the FA Trophy. Picture: BOB WALKLEYZane Banton sends St Albans City into the lead against Whitehawk in the FA Trophy. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“But we stuck at it and for me it was all about winning and winning ugly if we had to and we did that in the end.

“But it wasn’t pretty at all.”

City’s assistant is now looking ahead to what riches tomorrow’s draw (Monday) brings, with the competition now moving away from a geographical draw to a national one.

He said: “If we get a good draw you don’t know where this competition could take you.

Herts Advertiser: St Albans City are through to the second round of the FA Trophy after beating Whitehawk. Picture: BOB WALKLEYSt Albans City are through to the second round of the FA Trophy after beating Whitehawk. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“We could get a big crowd at home and it just takes you away from the league and takes the pressure off.”

One consequence of the win though is that City’s league match away to Weston-super-Mare on January 13 will now be played midweek instead.

And Allinson says they will just have to get on with it.

He said: “We don’t [want to go midweek] but we have to do it and we will be committed and go down there and do it.

Herts Advertiser: Zane Banton scores the opening goal. Picture: LEIGH PAGEZane Banton scores the opening goal. Picture: LEIGH PAGE (Image: Archant)

“We had to go to Poole last year on a Tuesday but it’s just one of those things.”