Saturday’s 2-0 win over Weston-Super-Mare was “just what the doctor ordered,” according to St Albans City joint manager James Gray.

The Saints travelled to north Somerset having lost back-to-back games against Chelmsford City and Boreham Wood but they consolidated their place in the top half of the Vanarama Conference South with three points at Woodspring Stadium.

Sean Shields and Steve Wales scored first-half goals as City moved up to seventh in the standings.

Speaking to Saintsnet after the game, Gray said: “I thought we were comfortable. The way we set up and the way we imposed ourselves, we never looked in danger. Joe Welch only had one save to make, albeit and important one at the time, but I thought through the whole game we were comfortable.

“We did the right thing in the right areas and that’s what got us the three points. We needed the win to keep in touch with the top seven, eight, nine [teams] so it was just what the doctor ordered.”

The season may only be 13 games old but City are surpassing early season expectations, and the challenge now facing Gray and Graham Golds is how to keep the Saints in the top half of the table.

“We want to keeop ourselves in contention with the top eight,” he explained.

“That for me looks like a marker that we can try and break into. We’re not taking it for granted but I’d expect and like us to be in and around that and keep in the mix for as long as possible and at the end of the season you never know.

He added: “The character of the lads was just what we order today. It was our most important game of the season so far; we needed three points to keep in touch.

“If you look at the league table, I feel everyone has been inconsistent so three points is massive. If [Weston] had beaten us then they would be on our coat tails and we’re looking at the bottom five or six and thinking we can get dragged in.

“[But] we’ve made the transition [to the Vanarama Conference South] quite nicely but there are very good sides and if you fall asleep for five seconds you’ll get done. We’re not getting carried away but it was nice to get three points.”