Match Report By Gary Collins

Perth Saints returned to Tompkins Park for the second Saturday fixture of season 2009 to take on Leeming Strikers in a City of Melville derby.

Saints came into the match on the strength of a good away win with an under-manned team against Ashfield, while Strikers backed-up after a shock 2-0 home defeat by Balga.

Both teams had depth on the bench with Saints increasing its starting squad from 9 to 15 with the return of its overseas stars and Coach Ross Greer fresh from christening duties.

Coach Greer decided on a 3-4-3 starting formation with Graham Cameron, Rob Zabica and Zoran Barovic given licence to roam at will in the attacking third.

The Saints attacking approach would see the creation of clear-cut chances that would reach double figures before the afternoon concluded, but the Saints profligate nature in front of goal would result in a poor conversion rate. 

While the Saints were wasteful in front of goal the Leeming team would see success from three defensive errors – its only real chances of the game.
Error number one saw Leeming’s big Geordie forward head the ball over the advancing Coach Greer in the Saints goal after a misunderstanding with Nigel Sayers.  The big bald Geordie would pose the main threat to Saints all day as he battered his way about the field.

Soon after leaving the field to tend to blisters, Rob Zabica returned to fire home the Saints first.  The Saints took a 2-1 lead soon after as Bondy Ryder made it two in two matches. Unlike his effort against Ashfield in the previous game, Ryder’s strike against Leeming required the execution of some skill as he volleyed home from 5 metres.

With a lead in place the Saints continued to pressure their opponent’s goal and it seemed only a matter of time before the margin would increase.  However, despite their superiority, error number two resulted in the Leeming equalizer.  Frank Houston fresh from an 18 day sojourn in Thailand ignored Coach Greer’s call for the ball and chested it into the path of an advancing Leeming player who steered the ball into the empty net.

2-2 at the break with the visitors still in the game courtesy of the Saints errors.

The second half offered more of the same as the Saints continued to create multiple chances without adding to their tally.  Leeming’s only attacking option was the Geordie who threw all of his weight around as he chased down the long ball.

Eventually the Saints dominance showed on the scoreline as first Nigel Mann scored from close in after some hard work by Graham Cameron and then Zoran Barovic made it four after a typical attacking dribble.

4-2 up with nearly 25 minutes left to play and the Saints should have powered on and improved their goal difference.  As it was the Saints squandered several more chances in the final quarter of the game without being troubled by the visitors.

The Geordie continued to make a nuisance of himself until Houston’s strong challenge at the ball (and the Geordies big bald head) saw the big man drop like a sack of spuds.  Nevertheless, the Leeming forward still had some fight in him and his challenge on Sayers saw the ball cannon off this reporter’s foot into the path of another Leeming player.   Error number three saw the Strikers score their third for the afternoon with two minutes remaining.

An unconvincing 4-3 home win for the Saints to keep intact a 100% record. 

A two week break for the Saints before their next game away to Fremantle United.  The Saints will need to re-group and make the most of the many chances they create to ensure they continue their winning ways.
Team:                         Barovic, Cameron, Collins, Deans, Greer, Houston, Ioannou, Mann, Norton, Ringer, Ryder, Sayers, Walker, Vallantine, Zabica

Scorers:                     Zabica (21), Ryder (36), Mann (52), Barovic (68)

Reporter’s Best:        Barovic, Mann and Sayers

Next Game

Away to Fremantle United – Hilton Park (2) – Sunday 28 June – 12.45 kick off. 

And now for something completely different…………………..……A break this week from our regular feature on ladies teams to reflect on the impending departure of the Portugese Plonker from The Theatre of Dreams.  Although Wayne Rooney may miss some of the benefits offered by Ronaldo we are sure he’ll be able to manage without him.

 

June 6, 2009