St Albans City manager Steve Castle praised his defence after the Saints earned a 1-0 win at Havant and Waterlooville on Monday night.

Castle opted to change his centre-back pairing from Mark Peters and James Quilter, with the game coming just two days after their 4-3 defeat at Staines Town, to returning skipper Ryan Frater and Adam Everitt.

The decision paid off with the Saints holding the hosts at bay and dealing with the dangerous long throws of Jon McDonald.

Castle said: "It was no disservice to Mark and James. We let four goals in but it certainly wasn't a case of those two being to blame. It was two games in three days and Adam, with his hernia, would struggle to play two games in that amount of time.

"Mark, with his age, would struggle as well. James Quilter's got a problem with his knee but he was fit to play. People like Ryan Frater were a colossus. The two of them worked well and it would be great if we could have all four of those available fighting for two places.

"They've got a hell of a weapon in that throw which we had to contend with. We tried to eliminate as many throws as possible, which we did, but anywhere in the final third he is throwing in with an unbelievable trajectory on it. It was very dangerous but we dealt with that well."

Drew Roberts struck the winner for the visitors in the 56th minute when Jake Beecroft played a superb pass into the forward's feet and he fired a shot from an acute angle into the corner of the net.

With Ian Dunn making a real impression up front since arriving at Clarence Park, with three goals in four appearances, Castle finally has some genuine competition for places in attack.

The manager added: "We've struggled to get goals and obviously Ian has come in and he does look like he is a poacher and likes to be in and around the box. But when you bring people like James Lindie in, who's been out for six months, every time he plays seems to be getting slowly but surely stronger. I think he'll be a great acquisition.

"If Drew Roberts and Gary Cohen want to stay in the team then their level of performance will have to go up because we haven't scored goals. When you do get a bit of competition that's when hopefully we can make it worthwhile up front."

Godfrey Poku and Jonathan O'Donnell are set to return to Luton Town this week after being loaned back to the Saints but Castle is optimistic about extending Beecroft's loan. The 20-year-old midfielder is due to return to Rushden and Diamonds after the Eastleigh trip on Saturday, March 6.

Castle said: "He doesn't know it yet but I would love to keep him for another month. Godfrey and JJ will go back which brings it down a little bit more on budgets and things like that.

"It's given me a little bit of a choice so that's nice. I wish all three of them the best for the future but I'm hoping we can still keep Jake. They're good honest lads and they've put their heart and soul into it every time they've played for the football club."