Lightning struck twice for Staines Town on Saturday as they went down to a 2-0 defeat to doomed St Albans City at Clarence Park on Saturday.

Defeat at Blue Square South’s bottom side in the FA Trophy earlier this season had been the low point of Staines’ season but they could have no complaints after Saturday’s league game in which City were deserved winners.

Staines started brightly enough with Scott Taylor having two shots narrowly off target but, when they started conceding needless free kicks in dangerous areas, it allowed St Albans to grow in confidence.

Another Swans chance saw Taylor get away but 40-year-old keeper Paul Bastock pulled off a good save at the cost of the corner.

And it was St Albans who took the lead after 21 minutes. Tony Battersby’s great run took him past two Swans defenders before he let fly with an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Staines tried to respond, with Warren Harris whipping over a cross that Richard Orlu headed just past the post while Taylor saw a shot diverted off target when it struck team mate André Scarlett.

But St Albans doubled their lead in the 58th minute when JJ O’Donnell found the net with a scissors kick that went in off the post.

The closest Staines came to pulling one back came six minutes later when sub Alex Duffy’s cross was met by Taylor’s shot that drew another excellent save from Bastock.

Youngster Mario Quiassaca also had a great chance after his pace took him clear of the defence in stoppage time but Bastock saved with his feet.

St Albans: Bastock; Hocking (Shields 45), Smith, Magwood, B Martin ©, Everitt, Fisher, Kelly, Battersby, Effiong (Petrucci 34), O’Donnell; unused Abdulai, Chaves, Dedman.

Staines: Wells; Jackson, Steer (Duffy 54), Gordon ©, Orlu, Sterling, Harris, D Brown, Butler (Quiassaca 79), Scarlett, Taylor; unused Newton, D Thomas, D Lee.

Attendance: 274.