ST ALBANS CITY moved two points clear at the summit of the Ryman Premier League on bank holiday Monday with a hard earned 2-0 victory over Essex side Heybridge Swifts and, in doing so, equalled the club record of four consecutive league wins at the start of a season.

City went into the meeting with Heybridge rocked by injuries to the influential duo of Steve Castle and Miguel De Souza, both of whom now face a lengthy lay-off, and although City failed to match their highly impressive 3-0 win at Aylesbury some six days previously, the team did show occasional flashes of inspiration, coupled with a gritty determination, which certainly bodes well for the future.

The first goal, when it came, was something of a scrappy affair but nevertheless deserved as the industrious Gary Crawshaw and Scott Oakes combined on the edge of the penalty box before the ball ran into the path of the unmarked Jon Challinor, who calmly sent Banks the wrong way with a low left-footed shot.

City began the second period in the ascendancy and on 49 minutes Barr collected Oakes' short corner and picked out Corey Campbell, who blotted an otherwise excellent performance by wastefully heading over the Hatfield Road goal.

An Oakes' free-kick was well taken by Banks on 67 minutes, before the former Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town star conjured up a moment of magic to set up Gary Sippetts, on as substitute with seven goals in the last two reserve games to his name, for number two.

Hollenbach crossed from the left and when the ball skimmed off a defenders head to Oakes, Oakes looked certain to shoot but instead opted to cushion a stunning lay-off to Sippetts who calmly controlled the ball and sent a placed shot low across Banks and just inside the far post for his first Ryman League goal.