Saints manager Steve Castle insists his side can still reach the play-offs despite losing 2-1 at home to Welling United on Monday.

St Albans City climbed into the top ten of the Blue Square South after a 3-0 win at Maidenhead United on Boxing Day but their momentum suffered a setback at Clarence Park after conceding an 89th-minute winner to a team reduced to ten men. The Saints are six points off the play-offs and inconsistent form throughout the division has given Castle hope his team can still mount a push for the top five.

City's boss said: "We've got to keep on getting more positive results than negative.

"Unfortunately that's ten games we've lost this season which is a hell of a lot if you're expecting to get in the play-offs. But there are a lot of teams in the same position and are only four or five points off so it is achievable and we've got to play them."

St Albans' midfield has been in decent form in recent weeks but Castle felt it was an area which let his side down against Welling. He also accused his team of giving the opposition, which featured former star Lee Clarke, too much space.

Castle said: "I think their two midfield players were better than our two and in fairness to our lads that's been pretty much unheard of in the last dozen games. They've been getting an awful lot of plaudits but they gave them far too much room.

"Everybody here knows the quality of Lee Clarke. They exploited it and as an ex-midfielder, you can't give players of that quality that amount of room and expect to win a game of football.

"Our biggest fault is belief. I do honestly think it is a belief thing with us. We can play a bit more fluently and we can get the ball into very good midfield players a bit more often. When you are 2 or 3-0 up you think you can do it but when you're only 1-0 up then you get a bit edgy.

"Sometimes we get suckered in during the last few minutes and concede goals and I can see there is a reason they do believe in themselves but positive results create an environment they are all enjoying."

Drew Roberts netted a brace in Saturday's convincing away win and the striker followed up with a consolation effort two days later. He formed a partnership with Paul Hakim, who has been missing for most of the season through work commitments, and Castle believes the pair have the makings of a dangerous partnership.

"That's three in two and hopefully he's got the poacher's instinct," the manager said. "The finishes were excellent. I'm really made up for someone like Drew. It has been commented most of his goals have been from the penalty spot but his work-rate has been phenomenal.

"He's had someone up there who really poses a threat and it's taken a little bit of pressure off Drew. Both of them are intelligent footballers and if I was a centre-half I wouldn't want to be playing against those two. I really pray we can get Paul Hakim a little more often. He's still top draw for me."

The Saints have the chance to punish Maidenhead again quickly when they host them on New Year’s Day. City were clinical in their victory last weekend and Castle says his team could have the edge after their recent encounter.

He added: "Psychologically they're not going to be too pleased again playing us. We kept them reasonably quiet. We didn't create many chances but the ones we did we put away. They've had a 3-0 reversal at their place and now they've got to come to us.

"It's an up and down season and we've just got to wash over the disappointment of Welling. But apart from Newport it's been an up and down season for everybody."

Castle has a number of injuries to contend with, including JJ O’Donnell and Adam Everitt, but he has been very impressed with two teenagers who have boosted his wafer-thin squad.

"There are a few injuries and walking wounded. Three games in a week is a little bit of a tough ask with the skeleton squad we've got but we'll go again.

"We've got people like Ross Dedman who's just turned 17 and done himself the world of good. He's a centre midfield player come centre-half and I've thrown him in at right-back. The lad knows how to play and he's been unlucky to be on the losing side.

"Danny Johnson did very well at Maidenhead. Every time he has come on he has looked a very positive player and unlucky not to get a start. He's forced himself in to the reckoning as well."