The bank holiday traffic on the M5 may have delayed this National League South clash at The Woodspring Stadium but there was no halting St Albans as three quick-fire first half goals sunk Weston-super-Mare and handed them a third defeat in a row.

Ryan Northmore lamented his side’s performance and told the Mercury some players have ‘given up the shirt’ and to expect changes for the Seagulls’ next match.

Matt Ball made his debut for the visitors, having signed in the summer from Wealdstone and scored twice in three minutes to put the visitors in the ascendency.

This prompted Weston to capitulate and Louie Theophanous added a third in what was an embarrassing seven minutes for the Seagulls.

Weston 0

https://twitter.com/SheridanRobins/status/770307061301280768

St Albans 3

Ball 32, 35

Theophanous 39

Weston: Purnell, Simpson, Williams, Mullings, Pope, Fortune ©, Meechan (McClennon 70), Richards (Kington 70), McCoulsky, Grubb, Dowling

Subs not used: Barnes, Wring, Powell

St Albans: Rusell, Herd, Bender, Chappell, Hill, Johnson, Casey, Thomas, Theophanous (Akinyemi 83), Morris (Merson 74), Ball (Rees 68)

Subs not used: Hoenes, Lucien

Attendance: 447

Despite a horrendous coach trip down to the seaside - which delayed kick off by more than 40 minutes - the Saints started the stronger and could have taken the lead inside three minutes.

Ball showed his potential early on but his early effort from 20 yards flashed just wide - much to the relief of Luke Purnell.

But Weston started to get into the game as the half wore on and a wonderful break from the Seagulls should have been rewarded.

Clayton Fortune’s inch-perfect ball from defence found Shawn McCoulsky on the right flank and he burst forward with his lightening-pace.

But the striker had no support and the Saints managed to clear.

Two minutes later and McClousky - the club’s top scorer - was at it again. He capitalised on some lack lustre defending and sprinted forward on the right once again.

While his touch was sublime, his final shot could only find the side netting.

Both sides were creating chances but just past the half hour mark, it was first blood to St Albans.

Ball – who made his debut for the club – broke the deadlock with a superb free kick just outside the area.

His strike was worthy of handing the Saints the lead and he then doubled his – and his teams - tally minutes later.

A long throw from Lee Chappell was headed on by Ryan Johnson. Ball was alert again and the former Wealdstone striker volleyed home.

That was not to be the end of the madness. Three minutes later the Saints put the game out of sight before the half-time whistle was blown.

The Seagulls’ defence went to sleep and George Casey played the ball into Louie Thephanous, who made no mistake with his finish.

Weston didn’t have anything to lose in the second half but the visitors continued their good play and the home side had Purnell to thank for not going 4-0 down early on. Theophanous was clean through on goal but the Seagulls’ stopper dived and saved well with his legs.

With 20 minutes to go, Weston finally started to look lively. George Dowling made some good runs in the centre but the Saints’ defence stood firm.

While there was plenty of endeavour in the second half, Weston continued to look second best, with Eliot Richards and Shawn McCoulsky failing to make an impact going forward.

With five minutes to go Dowling had another chance to open Weston’s account. Joe McClennan’s cross found the Bristol City midfielder but his shot went agonisingly wide on a day to forget for the Seagulls.

Northmore refused to blame the delayed kick off for the below par display, saying it would be an ‘excuse.’

He also said: “We are not going to win many games with disjointed performances like that.

“I am not seeing the resilience that we had in the earlier games. I am not hearing the lads be as vocal and it’s all very well feeling something, but you have to show it.”