St Albans City left wondering what might have been in Welling loss
Zane Banton powering through the middle of the park. Picture: LEIGH PAGE - Credit: Archant
St Albans City’s manager Ian Allinson was once again left to reflect after another close game slipped from their grasp.
Tom Bender rises the highest but is unable to get the ball into the net. Picture: LEIGH PAGE - Credit: Archant
Fellow high-flyers Welling United were the visitors to Clarence Park on Saturday and returned south of the Thames with a 2-1 victory, courtesy of goals from Joe Healy and Jack Jebb.
Nathan Pinney pulled one back for Saints in added time but it was too little, too late.
And Allinson believes it was a game they could have got a lot more from.
He said: “Up until they scored we looked more than comfortable in the game.
Sam Merson crosses for Nathan Pinney's consolation goal. Picture: LEIGH PAGE - Credit: Archant
“Some of the football we played was outstanding, some of the chances we created were excellent, we’ve hit the post and their keeper has made some good saves.
“But then we all bombed forward and before you know it we’re 1-0 down.
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“It’s difficult to take. That period between them scoring the two goals, we dropped our heads, lost out confidence and players didn’t want the ball.
“That was a concern and we looked to try and get a reaction with the substitutions but we still conceded a second.
Kieran Monlouis blasts the ball towards the goal. Picture: LEIGH PAGE - Credit: Archant
“But then we decided we had nothing to lose and played some lovely stuff and their keeper has made four or five outstanding saves.”
The result drops City down to seventh in the Vanarama National League South table.
But Allinson still feels his side are very much in the promotion frame, with just six points separating the top 10.
He said: “If you look at the games we’ve lost, they all been by the odd goal and even the ones we’ve won haven’t been by much more than the odd goal.
Solomon Sambou blasts the ball towards goal. Picture: LEIGH PAGE - Credit: Archant
“Everything is quite tight, the league is quite tight and all the managers I’ve spoken to over the last few weeks have all said the same; there isn’t a Maidenhead or an Ebbsfleet this year.
“Any team that goes and puts a consistent run together will put themselves into the play-off picture.
“But there’s a long way to go and we’ve got to stay positive and try and win as many games as we’ve can.
“We’re not playing poorly but we’ve got to stop giving away some of the silly goals and take some of the chances we’re creating.”
