SAINTS' emphatic victory at Billericay Town saw City notch up five wins on the trot, a win co-manager Gary Roberts sees as vital if St Albans are to achieve their ambition of finishing in the top eight, although Roberts believes his side may be capable of finishing higher.

"We played some very good football on Saturday and Billericay couldn't complain about the result. Some of our finishing was clinical."

When asked about what has made the difference to City's season and catapulted them into this rich vein of form, Roberts offers a full squad and health competition as the simple explanation.

"At the start of the season, for one reason or another, we only had one forward available for selection and we were forced to play 4-5-1, which doesn't suit the way that me and Steve (Cook) want to play.

"We now have Mike Bignall and Simon Martin up-front and they have formed a very good partnership. Younes Nabil is also close to being fully fit and the extra competition up-front will hopefully bring out the best of the players."

The players that Roberts and Cook have brought in, like Danny Honeyball and Rob Smith, have helped the team to adapt to the managers' preffered style of play, but Roberts is also pleased at how the remaining players from last season have managed to improve.

"I was sure that the boys that I brought in were up to the job and completely confident in their ability to play at this level, but I have been impressed by the likes of Bignall, Ryan Moran and Corey Campbell who have come on in leaps and bounds over the last couple of months."

Saints face Hampton and Richmond Borough on Saturday, December 15, a team who won at Clarence Park on the opening day of the season, but Roberts expects a very different game this time around.

Both teams are totally changed from the start of the season. We are looking for our fourth consecutive away win which is important for us.

"That openening day, we were not a settled side and I remember writing in my programme notes thait would take until November for us to find any consistency and that is proving to be the case.

"We envisaged being around mid-table by this time in the season and we're delighted that the team is surpassing our expectations. We hope to be in the top six by the end of the Christmas period of games and believe that is entirely possible."

Financial restraints have virtually ruled out any transfer activity in the near future and Saints will stick with the same squad of players who have won five out of their last six league matches.

"Hampton will be a difficult game," Roberts warned. "The pitch isn't the greatest and it will be a bit of a battle.

"If we can pick some good results up in our next couple of games, we will hopefully begin to open a gap between ourselves and the likes of Billericay Town and Boreham Wood as well as move into the top six. The players are definitely up for it."

December 13, 2001 13:00