SAINTS joint boss James Gray has called on his players to bounce back from the weekend’s defeat at Cambridge City and earn three points from Saturday’s home clash with struggling Hitchin Town.

St Albans were unlucky to fall to a 2-1 loss to The Lilywhites on Saturday going down to two late Craig Hammond goals.

It was a clash from which Gray, who manages the first team alongside Graham Golds, would have settled for a draw.

“On Saturday I would have taken a point, that’s the first time since we have taken over that I would have settled for that,” he said.

“But we are going for three points on Saturday, Hitchin are struggling, we want to get the points and get back in the play-off places.”

The Canaries were without a match at the weekend, so will be raring to go at Clarence Park.

“They [Hitchin] have had a bit of a rest, Colin [Payne] has gone there as assistant manager, they have released a few and brought a couple of players in so it will be a tough game.”

In terms of player selection ahead of the Hitchin game, Gray has a couple of injury concerns to James Comley and Chris Seeby and may make a signing or two before the game.

He said: “We’ll have a look at training on Thursday, we are taking things day by day at the moment.”

On Monday The Herts Advertiser revealed on www.hertsad24.co.uk that both striker Lewis Toomey and winger Sean Shields had left Clarence Park.

Toomey has joined Blue Square Bet South outfit Boreham Wood, while Shields has been given a contract with League 2 side Dagenham & Redbridge.

“Those lads have gone now so good luck to them,” said Gray.

The pair are the latest to depart the club with Barry Hayles, Ryan Watts, David Ijaha, Danny Gordon and Micah Hyde also leaving in recent weeks since the exit of former City boss David Howell.

“For us we took over with the side in a good league position, it’s just a shame many of the lads have chosen to move on largely to clubs in the Conference, Conference South or League,” added Gray.

“The lads that are here want to be here, it’s a bit easier to get work done now some of the others have gone.”

The Saints played a behind closed doors friendly with near neighbours London Colney on Monday night.

The fixture gave Gray and Golds the chance to cast their eye over players that have been on the fringes of the first team and give some of the youth players a taste of the action.

City lost the encounter 3-0, but Gray said the result was not important.

“It was good for the youth players to get a run out. I had hoped to have a look at a couple of others, but they didn’t make the game.”

Follow @hertsadsport on Twitter for Saturday’s match updates.