ST Albans City’s second-half showing against Weymouth should provide the blueprint for the remainder of the Clarence Park club’s season according to Ian Allinson.

The City boss saw his side come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw in the FA Trophy clash on Saturday.

The Saints are preparing to host Weymouth in the third qualifying round replay tonight with a home tie against Royston Town or Needham Market the reward for the victors, but Allinson was impressed with what he saw from his side after the break at the weekend.

He said: “In the first half we were a little bit anxious on the ball but the second half was excellent.

“It is just a shame we didn’t finish the game off. I want that second half replicated for the remainder of the season.”

Saturday’s match was played in testing conditions with rain ensuring playing free flowing football was a big ask for both the Saints and their hosts.

It was Weymouth who coped better, however, and they forced City into a number of early mistakes as they searched for the breakthrough goal.

Weymouth captain Jake McCarthy was the man to do so as he collected the ball just outside the box and found the bottom corner with a driven effort which skipped off the sodden turf and into the net.

Southern League Premier Division League leaders Weymouth continued to push forward for the remainder of the half but were unable to add to their advantage.

City made the most of the half-time interval and the 15-minute break seemed to work wonders for their confidence as they came out on the front foot in the second period.

Their bright start to the second period saw then draw level with 47 minutes on the clock when City skipper Solomon Sambou fired home from 15 yards out.

City were now well in command of proceedings and created a number of chances which ultimately came to nothing.

Weymouth were not completely devoid of a threat of their own and could have snatched victory late in the game.

A draw though, was a fair result on a day when neither side could claim to have done enough to secure progress to the next round of the FA Trophy.

City will once again look to their National League campaign on Saturday when they take on Truro City on the road at Plainmoor.

The Clarence Park club are in need of a positive result in the league having dropped to 12th after a run of just one win in their last five games.

Their previous league game yielded a goalless draw against Gloucester City and saw the Saints end a run of three defeats on the spin.

They sit three points adrift of the National League play-off places, while Truro are on the cusp of the relegation zone with 17 points leaving them 18th in the table.

Saturday’s hosts are, however, enjoying a purple patch having gone unbeaten in the process of taking 11 points in their last five games.