Match Report By Ben Fitzpatrick

The Saints booked themselves into the second round draw of the Social Cup, however it took a penalty shootout to get them there after a strong lineup could only muster a 1-1 draw with Chindits United.

Saints coach Brett Lambert assembled one of the strongest Social lineups for some time with ex-Australian Internationals Rob Zabica and Robbie Dunn in the mix.

And it was the Saints who took control of the opening stanza, as the watertight defence allowed the midfielder's time to roam forward in the search for an early goal, with Frankie Ferreira hitting the left upright with a scorching low shot after a flowing move.

The home side were threatening without really fully testing the keeper until Scott Fletcher came on in the middle of the park and through sheer determination put his side into the lead. Receiving the ball just to the left of centre midfield, Fletcher beat a man into the box but appeared to run into a brick wall as a defender covered. A block tackle saw the ball head towards the byline where Fletcher beat another man as the keeper rushed out to block, the loose ball again falling to Fletcher to stroke home into the empty net.

Six minutes later though and Chindits were back on level terms against the run of play after former Socceroo keeper Zabica hashed a simple clearance straight into the path of a Chindits striker who advanced and slotted home from 12 yards.

The boys in blue continued to press during the remainder of the first half but went into the break still locked at one a piece.

It was more of the same in the second half, the Saints playing 80% of the game in the Chindits half while the visitors were happy to play on the counter. Indeed they should have scored after a long ball caught out Fitzpatrick with the striker turning Sevo in the area but rolling his angled shot inches wide of the upright.

The Saints were pushing hard for a winner and Michael Walbach was guilty of spurning some great chances after the final ball found him in sight of goal. The worst miss however came with minutes to go as enterprising work by Hodnett down the left flank saw the defender whip in a perfect ball that curled over the keeper, the unmarked Walbach could only head against the cross bar from point blank range.

To the frustration of the watching crowd, the home side continued to create good chances throughout the remainder of the half but too often failed to hit the target as the away side hung on.

Chindits could have stolen it in the final minutes but again wasted what should have been a goal after another counter caught the Saints out, Zabica making the save.

With the game locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the dreaded penalty shootout arrived. Alex Vaughan who has never missed a Saints penalty knocked in the first one as did the Chindits player. Fletcher scored the Saints second and it was 2-2 shortly after. Walbach kept his head after his earlier missed chances to score low to the right before the Chindits player sent their third effort off the outside of the post to give the Saints a 3-2 lead.

Loll Endersby was the man to step up, but his low effort was saved by the Chindits keeper to give his side a chance, but he was let down by the next player to step up whose weak effort was easily saved by Zabica. Robbie Dunn was the man to win the game for the Saints, confidently dispatching his penalty into the net to send the Saints into round two.

April 9, 2008