Match Report By Bryan McVey

The BankWest Perth Saints turned up to the match against East Fremantle with high hopes after last weeks resounding win against Lynwood Colts, with coach Eddie Greco looking to make it two wins in a row.

The game got off a little slow for the Saints as they accustomed to the ridiculously narrow pitch, the 18 yard box being two steps away from the side line, and the spongy surface. This saw East Fremantle make a few early forays forward but never really threatening the Saints goal.

However it didn’t take the Saints long to find their stride. Dan Doody took the ball in the middle of the park and made a strong run towards the East Fremantle goal before being upended just outside the 18 yard box. Tottman stepped up to take the free kick and managed to squeeze it through the wall with a slight deflection, beating the keeper and putting the Saints one up.

The goal gave the boys some confidence and allowed them to relax more, which resulted in much better passing than the opening 15 minutes had offered. The second goal followed soon after, heavy Saints pressure on the East Fremantle defence saw McVey block the centre-backs attempted clearance and the ball broke to Larsen who managed to drag it away from the keeper and slot home.

The Saints grabbed their third in the 37th minute of the match. Some nice footwork by Jamie Graham saw him work some space and play a well weighted pass through to Tottman who placed the ball exquisitely into the keepers near post.

Three goals weren’t enough for the Saints and they kept pushing for another. Lee Wilkinson played a long free kick form inside the Saints half which landed at the feet of a home defender, but before he had time to react, the in form Jarreth Tottman pinched the ball from him before rounding the keeper and grabbing his hat-trick.

Some slack defending saw the hosts make a break down the left hand side with right back Ryan Holdsworth being left in a two on one situation. The winger played the ball through to the forward to put him one on one with Collins and the striker took his chance well three minutes into injury time.

The Saints went in at halftime buoyed by their excellent display, which was backed up in the half time talk from Greco.

The boys went back out in the second half with the aim to further extend their lead and improve their goal difference. Troy Richards managed to get hold of the ball in the middle of the park and held it up well before turning and putting Tottman through on goal again, this time with D. Doody and McVey both in support for a three on one situation. With his confidence high Tottman touched the ball to the left and rifled it past the keeper to make it 5-1.

The Saints were unlucky not to have another a few minutes latter. Dan Doody played the ball out wide to Dane Griffin who tore down the line cutting the ball across the face of goal and McVey hit his first time effort off the cross bar which bounced down and out to Troy Richards who saw his first time volley deflected over the bar for a corner.

Richards whipped in the resultant corner which was cleared back to him, his second cross was met emphatically by the head of Adam Reynolds looping the ball over the helpless keeper and into the net to take it to 6-1.

Another chance went begging for the Saints as Tony Doody found himself played through on goal from on the left hand side, with more time than he probably realised, and he blazed his shot wide of the target.

East Fremantle managed to grab another goal, again in injury time. There was a bit of a scramble on the edge of the Saints 18 yard box, with players failing to clear the ball it broke to one of East Freo’s wingers whose first time strike saw the ball nestle in the back of the net.

An all round good display from the boys who hope to carry their confidence and style of play on for the rest of the season. Roll on next week.

June 9, 2008