Bishop's Stortford became the latest side to extend St Albans City's winless run with a 1-0 win at Clarence Park and aid their own relegation fears.

The Saints have not won in six games in the National League South and have seen their play-off campaign, which looked assured mere weeks ago, left in tatters by a woeful run of form since the turn of the year.

Their fragility was exposed 36 seconds after half-time when Luke Callander fed Sam Ford to open the scoring for the visitors - who had only six wins all season coming into the game.

St Albans had hit the bar before the break through debutant Joe Robinson and Tom Gardiner had a shot blocked on the line, but could not find a breakthrough and were left without a point.

Robinson was signed on loan from Championship side Ipswich in the build-up to the game, and replaced Tom Bender in the hosts' back-line for the visit of Stortford.

He was one of six changes made by Ian Allinson as the Saints boss frantically searched for a winning formula to arrest his side's drastic loss of form, including recalls for veteran striker Jamie Cureton and midfielder David Noble.

And the new-look starting line-up nearly had the desired effect within the opening minutes, Sam Corcoran looping a shot goalwards but seeing it cleared.

Cureton had another chance deflected away before Gardiner's shot was blocked on the line following Noble's delivery.

Aaron Green miscued a shot from the edge of the box in a rare Stortford attack just before half-time, and even closer to the break Robinson struck the bar.

It took mere moments after half-time for the visitors to steal the lead, as Allinson's team-talk went out the window when Ford was left unmarked to fire beyond James Russell for the opener.

The Saints huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser - but in truth, it looked unlikely as Stortford's defence - which has shipped some 71 goals this season - stood firm.

In the final 10 minutes a foul on Cureton gave Shaun Lucien the chance to strike from 20 yards, but Richard Walton pulled off a fine diving save to keep out his free-kick and all but seal the points for the visitors.

St Albans: Russell, Saville (Lucien 55), Gardiner, Robinson, Noble, Corcoran (Theophanous 55), Chappell, Thomas, Casey, Cureton, Walker (Merson 75).

Not used: Martin, Kerr.