St Albans City joint manager James Gray praised his players’ character after they twice fought back to hold promotion chasing Bromley to a 2-2 draw on Monday.

The Saints went into the match off the back of three successive Conference South defeats but halted their losing run after a spirited comeback at Clarence Park.

Gray said: “I think that was the most important outcome. We had to try and halt the slide from the last three games. I’m chuffed with the character of the boys.

“Going 1-0 and 2-1 down, the boys could have quite easily folded after the run we’ve been on but they showed great character to get back into it. I thought each to a man they put in a proper shift.

“They’re a good side,” he continued. “We’ve had a hard run over the last four games which has been very difficult and took a lot out of the boys. But it shows what can be achieved if you get tactics right and the boys really applied it to the letter.”

Bromley opened the scoring after 34 minutes when Louis Dennis cut inside and fired a shot past keeper Joe Welch. But the Saints equalised just before the break when James Kaloczi, who was back in the side following his loan spell at Wingate & Finchley, headed home.

The visitors were denied a second goal after half-time when Welch brilliantly pushed Moses Ademola’s header onto the post. But Bromley regained the lead in the 52nd minute when Danny Waldren headed past the keeper.

The Saints only needed seven minutes to equalise again when Lee Chappell’s free-kick was headed in by Ben Martin.

St Albans took a more direct approach against Bromley and the manager admitted the team needed to adjust their style of play to make them harder to play against.

Gray said: “Myself and Graham [Golds] did a bit of soul searching and said we had to stop this rot. We’ve had a lot of managers saying we play nice, attractive football but it’s no good doing this and getting beat 4-2 and 4-1.

“Kaloczi coming back gave us a bit of extra height and with Loick Pires, Tom Ward, Geoff Martin and Ben Martin we’ve got quite a few lads that are 6ft 3in or 4in. We played that system and we know that it’s not pretty.

“It might not have been the prettiest match in the fans’ eyes but there are more ways of skinning a rabbit and we needed a point at least.”

The Saints brought in former Hayes & Yeading United and Oxford City striker Geoff Martin at the end of last week. City also signed midfielder Charlie Gorman on a one-month loan from Welling United to help cover for Sam Corcoran while he recovers from a suspected broken bone in his foot.

St Albans have also released Elliott Buchanan with the striker moving to Staines Town.

Gorman made his debut for the club during Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Ebbsfleet United.

Steve Wales netted the consolation for the visitors but they were well beaten at Stonebridge Road.

The Harpenden Construction Limited August player of the month is Wales. The award will be presented to him prior to this Saturday’s home game against Maidenhead United.