St Albans City's new-found defensive solidity continued to please Ian Allinson after the Saints held Hungerford Town to a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

The stalemate ensured City kept their second consecutive National League South clean sheet after previously going 17 matches without a shutout.

Hungerford's position just outside the play-off spots meant City were always likely to face a tough day and Allinson praised his side's defensive efforts.

"We knew we would have to defend quite deep because of the way they play. They have a system which works well and we knew we would have to come here and dig in," Allinson said.

"We won big headers and cleared our lines when we needed to. The players have defended really well with the centre-halves doing well and the full-backs tucked in well."

While a point on the road satisfied Allinson, he was still left to rue a number of missed opportunisms which could easily have swung the game in City's favour.

Hungerford keeper Lewis Ward was on fine form to deny George Cassey from close arrange and the Saints also struck the woodwork.

"We probably had three or four chances to take three points from the game," Allinson said of the opportunities.

"Their keeper has made two great saves and the one in the first half is outstanding, the one from George Cassey.

"He is six yards out and we are thinking he has to score but the lad has pulled a hand out from somewhere and tipped it round the post.

"David Noble has hit the bar and we had chances in the second half to win it as well."

Despite the point being viewed as nothing but positive, failure to win ends City's hopes of making the play-offs.

They are 16-points adrift of fifth place Poole Town with five games remaining ahead of a home game against Margate on Saturday.

Regardless of league position, Allinson believes their is plenty to play for in the remainder of the season and wants St Albans to continue their positive run.

"We can look forward to the rest of the season. We have set our stall out and I won't discount us winning all five of our games," he said.

"All we can do is keep trying to win games and the last two games have given us a little bit of confidence, which we have to take forward.

"We must not undo the good work the players have done over the past two weeks."

Maragte's lowly league position, they sit 21st in the table, means City will have every confidence of taking their unbeaten league run to three games.

Allinson says it is important his side do not get carried away with their current form and expects a tough test against the relegation candidates.

He said: "The Margate game is going to be tough. If we think we have made it because of two clean sheets,we are a million miles away from where we need to be."