Percy Kiangebeni’s dramatic stoppage-time winner proved enough to down Poole Town and keep St Albans City on course for the National League South play-offs.

Marvin Brooks gave relegation-threatened Poole a surprise lead with a 38th minute strike and an uninspired Saints looked set to suffer defeat at Clarence park.

However, a goalkeeping error allowed Rhys Murrell-Williamson to level from distance with 20 minutes to play and Kiangebeni bundled in at the death to complete a priceless turnaround.

The result leaves City fourth in the table 11 games remaining this season, and they are firmly in command of their own destiny as the campaign reaches its climax.

They were made to work for the three points, though, and looked second best for much of the game, particularly in a cagey first half showing.

Poole started the better of the two sides and belied their 20th place standing in the table with a number of forays forward.

While Town were having more of the ball, chances were at a premium and the majority of their efforts came in the form of pot-shots from range.

They fashioned the first half’s only genuine opening shortly before the interval as a driving run from the right saw the ball break to Brooks on the edge of the box.

The number 10 showed great composure and placed a shot low to Dean Snedker’s left to leave the Saints stopper with little chance.

The hosts would be indebted to their number one after the break and he made some smart one-on-one saves to keep the deficit at one.

Snedker’s solid display could not have been in starker contrast to the error of judgement from his counterpart which gifted City a lifeline.

A long ball forward from Tom Bender sent Murrell-Williamson away down the left wing and, with little danger to his goal,Nick Hutchings came racing some 30 yards from his line.

The rush of blood allowed the City man to role the ball under the onrushing keeper and find the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

From then on City were in the ascendency and introduced Sam Merson from the bench as they went in search of a winner.

He proved to be a useful focal point in attack and was unfortunate to see a header loop onto the roof of the net late in the game.

Merson’s prowess in the air proved decisive in the fourth minute of added time as City launched one last attack on the Poole goal.

Murrell-Willamson won a free-kick wide on the right and sent a deep cross towards the back post where Merson got the better of his marker.

He nodded back across goal and Kiangebeni was on hand to stoop and head into an empty net from point-blank range.

Ian Allinson’s men will look to build on the confidence boosting win when they take on Gloucester City away from home on Saturday.

Their hosts head into the game sitting 12th in the table and seem a long shot to make a late dash for the play-offs.

They saw a run of three straight wins come to an abrupt halt on Saturday as they were comfortably beaten 3-1 on the road against a dominant Hemel Hempstead outfit.