A third successive defeat sent St Albans City tumbling out of the National League South play-off places but manager Jon Meakes still believes they will reach the post-season party.

A solitary first half goal by Aaron Blair gave Braintree Town a 1-0 win at Clarence Park, leaving Saints ninth in the standings, three points behind Aveley although the Essex side have played a game more.

Bath City are in between with two games in hand on Aveley and one on Saints but Meakes still has confidence, ahead of Easter Monday's trip to Slough Town.

He said: "We've got five games left so go and win five games. It's still in our hands if we go and win those five games.

"That's the mindset. There's no point dwelling on this loss, I told the lads as soon as you leave the dressing room, let's prepare for Monday."

The winner came from a City mistake but the boss believes it was the chances missed at the other end that were key.

He said: "Overall, we should have been two or three goals up in the first half, we dealt with them and the [style of] football they play very well.

"We had good chances and didn't take them before we made the error that gave them their one goal.

"It was a poor mistake and collectively we shouldn't be making them but if you do, you have to take your chances.

"The chances were there, they weren't half chances.

"If we score they have to come out and not just kick it from one end to the other."