Ian Allinson hailed his St Albans City players for “putting their necks on the line” as Saints recorded their first league win since October at Eastbourne.
They had to do it the hard way too, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Priory Lane, and had it not been for the dismissal of Clovis Kamdjo in the second period, the Saints’ boss felt the margin of victory could have been bigger.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Allinson, “too long really but we have to live with that.
“We’ve had to work extremely hard on keeping clean sheets but also to put goals in and we set up with that in mind.
“Defensively we were all over the place in the first-half. Our shape wasn’t right. We left holes in areas we shouldn’t have done.
“As soon as they scored their goal we had an awful 15 minutes and had to change it quite quickly.
“And after that we were in control until the sending off.
“The sending off changed everything and the boys did brilliantly.
“They put their necks on the line for the club and they deserve the three points.”
Such is the tightness of the Vanarama National League South, the win lifts City up to 11th and just three points behind the play-off places, despite the last success arriving six games ago on October 30.
And with the win coming on the eve of the busy Christmas period, Allinson thinks it could be a case of perfect timing.
“The club needed it and the players needed it to,” he said.
“We haven’t had any continuity over the last few weeks but with games coming thick and fast I think we might get back on track.
“It’s no coincidence that when we play Saturday, Tuesday, we seem to hit a bit of form and our pattern of play seems to be better.”
Defender Lewis Knight hit the winner with David Moyo putting City back on level terms, another thing which pleased Allinson.
He said: “All forwards need goals, and we’ve been struggling to score but sometimes you have to be in those areas and the one thing that pleased me was his running in behind them.”
For report and reaction to Saints’ Boxing Day match with Hemel Hempstead Town go to www.hertsad.co.uk/sport
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