St Albans City manager Ian Allinson insists their survival hopes are in their own hands despite losing to Maidstone United.

The Saints have revived their hopes of avoiding relegation from the National League South after four consecutive wins but this was ended after a 2-1 home defeat on Saturday.

The result leaves City second bottom but still only three points off safety with five games remaining.

Allinson said: "We have to pick ourselves up. We've still got five games to go and teams around us lost as well. It's still wide open. It's really in our hands if we go and win the games we've got left. That's what we've got to do.

"We have to be positive, be on the front foot and look to score goals. We've not lost points to teams around us which is the most important thing. When we play Havant & Waterlooville [17th] and teams like that we've got to make sure we don't drop three points to those teams."

The Saints boss added: "We've got nothing to lose and we have to try to win as many games as we can. We're only going to win games by scoring goals."

The hosts found themselves chasing the game early on after conceding the opening goal inside the first ten minutes.

Dan Sweeney sent a header into the path of Joe Healy and he fired past goalkeeper Joe Welch from close range.

But Allinson's side drew level after equalising just before the half hour mark.

Just one day after winning the league's player of the month award, Louie Theophanous netted a fierce half-volley as he scored for the fifth consecutive game.

But Maidstone regained the lead six minutes into the second half when a cross was headed on by Healy and Alex Flisher fired home from close range.

The Saints almost salvaged a point when Harry Anderson and Charlie MacDonald struck the woodwork.

But second-placed Maidstone held out to boost their promotion bid and leave the Saints' survival hopes in the balance.

Allinson said: "We spoke before the game about starting games sharper and not giving teams a head start but unfortunately before the tenth minute we found ourselves 1-0 down.

"You can't give teams in the top five or six a head start and we've done exactly the same.

"We showed great character to get back into the game and even at 2-1 we hit the post and had a couple of half chances."

The Saints travel to play-off contenders Maidenhead United on Saturday in a vital match for both sides.