Match Report By Ben Fitzpatrick

The Perth Saints el Premiere’s cruised to their third consecutive victory with a 9-3 thrashing of a hapless Perth HWA Rang at Miles Park on Sunday.

In truth Rang were fortunate to score three with their second goal coming from a fortuitous Justin Forbes attempted clearance that cannoned off Mick Marinovich before being tapped into the empty net whilst the third goal won’t want to be watched again by Forbes who did an impression of the Sydney Harbour bridge with the ball rolling under his arcing arms/body.

The goals were annoying from an aesthetic point of view but had no influence on the game as the Saints were just too good for the Rangies.

The match was only four minutes old when Ferreira opened the scoring after volleying a bouncing shot over the keeper and into the corner following good work by Marinovich to cross in from the left byline.

Seven minutes later and it was 2-0 to the boys in blue when Fitzpatrick pumped a long free kick from the Saints half to the edge of the Rang box, the ball falling perfectly to Ian Maddick who controlled and slotted home.

It was the perfect start and allowed the Saints to play with confidence but the Rangies hit back with some hard running and a slice of fortune when Sean Morgan misjudged and allowed the ball to bounce over his head giving the Rang striker the chance to advance on Forbes and slide home for 2-1.

Only five minutes later and it should have been 2-2 when a speculative effort from halfway had Forbes backtracking towards goal, the big man pushing the ball onto the bar and with a striker following up all he had to do was tap home the loose ball from eight yards but somehow sliced it wide with the goal at his mercy in a miss that Bren Hartnoll would have been proud of.

It was a let off for the Saints and Rang were made to pay only minutes later when substitute Scott ‘Lance Armstrong’ Fletcher weaved some magic on the right to bamboozle two players before curling in an inch perfect ball for Craig Jordan to glance home via his beautiful head in what was a beautiful goal worthy of the highest level.

Big and not so beautiful Anthony was next on the scoresheet when he picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, advanced, and as the defence backed off curled his shot low into the net although the keeper will feel he could have done better after getting a hand to it.

With half time looming, the Rangies gave up any hope of getting back into the match when a long shot was initially saved easily by the keeper who then fumbled and spilled the ball where Maddick pounced and squared to Skip Roberts to tap home with power and accuracy from one yard in probably the only goal he will score this season.

After the obligatory post half time five minute fade out, business was restored to normal when Craig Jordan scored his second header of the day to make it 6-1.

Josh Tighe got on the scoresheet in a memorable goal that this writer cannot remember before Rang hit back with the bungled clearance goal.

Dusan Sevo made it eight for the Saints when he tapped home from one yard in “Roberts fashion” following a great cross from the man himself Roberts that Fitzpatrick did well to pull back from the byline.

Rang scored their third to the annoyance of those in blue but Fitzpatrick restored the six goal lead 10 minutes before time when he bundled a Ferreira shot home via both feet from four yards on the angle after the initial shot had hit the post.

There were to be no more goals as the Saints failed to record double digits, although the +6 on their goal difference was vitally important after the 8-0 drubbing by Canning in Round 2.

Next up for the Saints is bottom side Westnam and the chance to make it four wins on the trot. Eight players on the scoresheet is certainly pleasing for new Manager Dom Hodnett whose record now reads played 3, won 3.

 

June 6, 2009