David Noble was beaming with delight after St Albans City's thumping of Hampton & Richmond Borough - even if the ravages of being a football manager means he won't be able to dwell on it for too long.

The midweek National League South trip to The Beveree couldn't have gone better as braces from Tafari Moore, Zane Banton and Kyran Wiltshire gave City them a 6-0 triumph, their biggest league success since beating Havant & Waterlooville in April 2016.

And it wasn't just the goals that pleased the caretaker manager, the standard of play was some of the best seen for many a month.

"Confidence on the ball is something I have been trying to get into them and it is difficult," he said. 

"But once you start to see that it works, it gives you that belief and we were very good.

"That could be six of the final 10 goal of the season contenders. We got some unbelievable goals. 

"I said to their manager, everything we hit went in and they were goals at good times. 

"They had a couple of chances when we were 2-0 up but then we got the third. 

"They have another chance but we get the fourth. It was one of them, one of those nights where we've had about seven shots and scored from six of them. 

"We've been very good away from home, that's been the case since the start of the season, and not quite as good at home. 

"It is something we're trying to improve but the boys are learning and taking on a lot of information. 

"This was great. 

"I've been here six seasons and I can't remember a six-goal win." 

One of the big plusses from the evening was the first start since August for Mitchell Weiss.

And although he failed to trouble the scorers, his overall contribution was significant.

Noble said: "He was very good. He stretches teams and doesn't look like he's been away. 

"His pass for the first goal was absolutely brilliant but just before that he picked up the ball in a lovely little pocket and rapped it off the post. 

"Mitch was excellent but everyone was." 

It was another victory for the popular former midfielder but although he has hinted at wanting the job on a full-time basis, his first managerial experience is providing him with a few sleepless nights, something he wasn't entirely prepared for.

"You can't switch off from it," he said. "That’s the one thing I've learnt. You're thinking about it 24/7. 

"I've got another job at the minute, one that pays the bills and puts food on the table, and then there's the football side. 

"There are not enough hours in the day. 

"I'm at work and I finding myself thinking about passing moves and who's playing tonight and how can I tell this person he's not playing. 

"Your mind is just constantly awash with football.

"Usually I'd just get in my car and go home but now I'll be at work, laying blocks, and I'll be getting phone calls from the doctors about people who are injured and who's available. 

"It's a gig where your mind just does not switch off. 

"I'll have to take a pillow and quilt to work as I'll need a lie down to think."

 

And as he left west London, his mind was already turning to the next game, away to Slough on Saturday.

He said: "When we play games I obviously speak to the opposition managers and they all say the same thing. 

"You're high when you win but it might only last that night and by the time the morning comes round, you’re thinking about the next game. 

"It's relentless and this period we've had is not stopping for the next few weeks. We've got a lot of games. 

"I'll enjoy this but probably by the time I've got home in the motor, I'll have already started thinking about Slough."