Zane Banton and Kieran Monlouis were enough to take St Albans into the last 32 of the FA Trophy as they Saints beat Whitehawk 2-1.

City started the game brightly and created a number of openings before Banton gave them the lead with 16 minutes on the clock.

The go-ahead goal owed much to a fine through ball which sent Banton clear and allowed him to race through on goal.

He settled on the ball and finished in clinical fashion to give his side a 1-0 advantage at the break.

Their lead wouldn’t last long, however, and Whitehawk started the second half with renewed confidence as they took the game to their opponents.

They bagged a deserved equaliser with 52 minutes on the clock when a cross was only partially cleared by a scrambling City defence.

The loose ball fell to Ky Marsh-Brown and he made no mistake, thumping into the top corner from the edge of the box to restore parity.

Hawk looked to gain confidence from the goal, but were hit with a sucker-punch just eight minute after making it 1-1 when City restored their lead.

The winning goal came out of nothing as Soloman Sambou got forward and sent a cross into Tom Bender who rose highest to nod back across goals.

His header picked out Monlouis and he swept in first time to give Ian Allinson’s side a lead they would hold until the close.

Banton could have made the result more comfortable soon after, but could only hit the post and Sam Merson then fired into the side-netting.

Whitehawk had chances of their own to snatch a draw but the St Albans defence stood firm and booked safe passage to the next round.