Match Report By Ben Fitzpatrick

It was raining in more ways than one at Tompkins Park on sunday, as the heavens opened and the goals flowed as the BankWest Perth Saints and Forrestfield United fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw.

The late drama surrounded the referee who awarded the Saints a penalty that allowed Alex Vaughan to tie the game in the 84th minute before sending off the Forrestfield number 9 after the final whistle for his verbal tirade against the referee that is likely to see him miss at least three matches for his efforts.

Despite having one of the largest Social squads in living memory, the boys in blue were down to the bare minimum players at kick off, with Social South One coach Eddie Greco helping out to ensure there was at least one substitute on the bench.

A determined Forrestfield outfit eager to take the Saints scalp quickly found the lead, Saints keeper Ross Greer hesitated in collecting a through ball as the converging Dusan Sevo and Forrestfield attacker spilled the ball free during the collision. The resulting skirmish saw the Forrestfield player appear to foul Sevo as they both fell to ground, the referee who was still in the centre circle allowing play to continue as the ball was stroked into the empty net.

Stung by the early setback, the Saints looked to get back into the match but found the going tough against a more committed Forrestfield outfit with their midfielder's seemingly everywhere. The Saints defence were kept busy repelling the attacks and trying to limit the shots to long distance and set pieces.

Saints central defender Ben Fitzpatrick produced one blockbuster tackle to spur on his side but it was to no avail. The Saints went further behind seven minutes before half time as a counter attack allowed number 5 to turn a defender in the box and square to a supporting player to side foot home from eight yards with the defence still scrambling back.

Half time words were dished out by coach Lambert and captain Roberts as a dispirited Saints side looked for a way back into the match. The switch of debutante Stefan Lombardo to the left wing and introduction of Eddie Greco to the right proved a masterstroke for the Saints as they began to push Forrestfield back and look for an opening.

Lombardo was excelling and his pace and crossing was what the Saints had lacked in the first 45 minutes. His run down the left and ball into the box on 61 minutes was not dealt with by Forrestfield and allowed Sean Morgan time to run onto the loose ball and curl a fantastic right footer into the top corner from 14 yards.

The goal gave the home side the hope they needed, however you could sense they were determined to get another and salvage something from the game. They thought they had it only minutes after the first, bullocking work by Greco down the right saw him cross from the byline for Walbach to glance a fantastic header into the net only to see the linesman's flag up with the ball having apparently just crossed the byline before being crossed in.

Not to be perturbed, the Saints continued to press forward and the equaliser finally came after Walbach headed a cross into the bottom corner to tie the game at 2-2.

Forrestfield were tiring but were dangerous on the counter, the ginger proving extremely difficult to handle down the right side. One such counter saw the visitors regain the lead in what was a carbon copy of the first goal, Greer hesitant to come and collect the ball, a clash and spillage with the resulting ball being stroked into the empty net.

There was still time for the Saints to go forward, Morgan was denied a goal by a one on one save by the impressive Forrestfield keeper as the Saints thought it was not meant to be their day.

As time was running down, Fletcher jinked into the box and was bundled over in what appeared to be a soft penalty. Fletcher however copped an elbow to the face and had to be treated for a cut mouth.

After some debating between the co-captains Roberts and Fitzpatrick, a nervy Alex Vaughan stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and give the Saints a share of the spoils.

There was still more drama to come, the lunatic Forrestfield number 9 insisting on letting the referee know what he thought of him after the final whistle, receiving a yellow card before continuing with his tirade and receiving a red card. A one fingered salute to the referee was met with howls of derision and laughter from the gathered Saints supporters before the Forrestfield number 9 approached the masses under the cabana's wanting to fight 25 guys at once. As he was dragged off by his team mates he came back for more only to be laughed back to the change rooms.

An act of lunacy that will see the player miss at least three matches and probably more in a time where respect of officials is paramount to the future of the game.

April 28, 2008