Match Report By Ben Fitzpatrick

The Saints Family came together on Easter Monday to remember one of the clubs great characters, David Deakin, and did what he would have wanted them to do; play football.

Whilst the result is really a secondary consideration on the day after the tragic passing of "Deaksy" just over one year ago, both sides wanted to win and ended up producing an entertaining display of football for the large support on hand in perfect sunshine at Tompkins Park.

It was the Social boys who started the more brightly, using their pace to work in behind the Masters defence with Fletcher and Ferreira causing all sorts of problems down the right flank whilst Endersby and Murray held the central midfield.

However it was the Masters who took the lead after the Socials failed to clear their lines and the resulting back post cross finding the head of Scagnetti who finished from a tight angle.

Masters Captain Ross Greer wasted a couple of good opportunities for his side to extend the lead and they were made to pay dearly as on the half hour a raking back post ball from Alex Vaughan found Michael Walbach who smashed a first time volley past ex-Australian 'keeper Rob Zabica from an angle 10 yards out in what was a sensational goal.

The Social continued to press for another goal but could not find a way past the hulking figure of the former Socceroo.

Whilst the Socials were the form side of the first half, it was roles reversed in the second as the Masters lifted a gear to stamp their authority on the contest.

Referee Mark Ritchie awarded a penalty for hand ball against David Murray in the area with Andy Thorburn easily stroking the ball past substitute keeper Vaughan.

Not to be perturbed by the goal, the Socials continued to press and got their rewards just before the hour mark as an audacious back heel flick by Collins released Fletcher into space who curled a fantastic shot around Zabica and in off the post from 20 yards.

The physical presence of Greer and Thorburn was beginning to unsettle the Saints defensive line and the third goal game after a bouncing ball across the box was brilliantly dummied by Alex Robertson allowing Graham Cameron the easy task to control and slot past Vaughan from 12 yards.

Collins almost snatched a goal out of nothing to get the Socials back into it again but after a brilliant turn found his powerful drive from the left side palmed onto the post and to safety by Zabica.

The match was over on 78 minutes after a long ball caught out the Saints defenders, Fitzpatrick's hashed clearance falling to Biletic who fired a first time volley over Vaughan from 20 yards.

There was still time for a long range Frankie Ferreira shot to cannon off the upright with Zabica scrambling before referee Ritchie awarded the Socials a dubious penalty for hand ball in the last five minutes. Walbach however struck his shot wide of the post to leave the final score at 4-2 to the Masters, with the Cup's history now reading two wins a piece.

March 26, 2008