St Albans City manager Ian Allinson has identified more experience as the cornerstone for an even better campaign next season.

Herts Advertiser: Tom Smith thumps in Bath City's opening goal. Picture: BOB WALKLEYTom Smith thumps in Bath City's opening goal. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

The 2-1 defeat at Bath City confirmed that the Saints would just miss out on the Vanarama National League South play-offs and Allinson was in reflective mood at Twerton Park.

Herts Advertiser: Tom Smith thumps in Bath City's opening goal. Picture: BOB WALKLEYTom Smith thumps in Bath City's opening goal. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

And he pointed at the age of his young squad as perhaps a reason for City not getting over the line despite classing the season overall as an “overachievement”.

Herts Advertiser: St Albans City's players acknowledge the travelling support at the end of the game. Picture: BOB WALKLEYSt Albans City's players acknowledge the travelling support at the end of the game. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

He said: “Everything is an improvement on last year, the points total, the goals scored, the position, but we are a young side and we’ve got a hell of a lot to learn and bringing in some experience to go with that is going to be the next test.

Herts Advertiser: St Albans City's players acknowledge the travelling support at the end of the game. Picture: BOB WALKLEYSt Albans City's players acknowledge the travelling support at the end of the game. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“We need to see where we’re going to be in terms of the budget, in terms of what players are available, what players we want to keep and what players don’t want to stay.

Herts Advertiser: Zane Banton fires in St Albans City's equaliser. Picture: BOB WALKLEYZane Banton fires in St Albans City's equaliser. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“We’ve probably got three or four who’ve already got deals elsewhere but we’ll sit down with the players over the next week or two and then I think we all need to have a bit of a break.

Herts Advertiser: Zane Banton celebrates his equaliser for St Albans City at Bath. Picture: BOB WALKLEYZane Banton celebrates his equaliser for St Albans City at Bath. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“It seems to have been a long hard season.

Herts Advertiser: Plenty of St Albans City's fans made the trip to Somerset. Picture: BOB WALKLEYPlenty of St Albans City's fans made the trip to Somerset. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“There are lots of things to look at but perhaps in the end we haven’t been good enough, which would be sad to say as I think some of our performances this year have been outstanding.

Herts Advertiser: Zane Banton celebrates his equaliser for St Albans City at Bath. Picture: BOB WALKLEYZane Banton celebrates his equaliser for St Albans City at Bath. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“But we haven’t been consistent enough but that could be because we’re quite a young side and we haven’t got enough experienced players throughout the team. Just having David Noble and Ben Herd is not enough.”

Herts Advertiser: Zane Banton celebrates his equaliser for St Albans City at Bath. Picture: BOB WALKLEYZane Banton celebrates his equaliser for St Albans City at Bath. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

That extra experience could be needed as well-supported and financially well-backed clubs come into the league.

Herts Advertiser: Dean Snedker goes the wrong way as Matt Richards scores Bath City's winner from the penalty spot. Picture: BOB WALKLEYDean Snedker goes the wrong way as Matt Richards scores Bath City's winner from the penalty spot. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“I’ve already had that in my mind,” said Allinson. “There’s a massive concern about some of the teams that are coming in.

Herts Advertiser: Zane Banton fires in St Albans City's equaliser. Picture: BOB WALKLEYZane Banton fires in St Albans City's equaliser. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“I look at it and although we do need to improve, it’s going to be a tough year.

Herts Advertiser: St Albans City's Kieran Monlouis slides in with Bath goalkeeper Luke Shortwood. Picture: BOB WALKLEYSt Albans City's Kieran Monlouis slides in with Bath goalkeeper Luke Shortwood. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“Billericay are coming up, we don’t know what’s happening with Hereford but Torquay and Woking are coming down and you could quite easily end up with Dulwich Hamlet or Slough.

Herts Advertiser: A disappointed Sam Merson reflects on St Albans City missing out on the play-offs. Picture: BOB WALKLEYA disappointed Sam Merson reflects on St Albans City missing out on the play-offs. Picture: BOB WALKLEY (Image: Archant)

“So it’s going to be a tough league, we know that, and we need to recruit properly in the summer and we need to make sure we have the right balance as well.”