Match Report By Ben Fitzpatrick

The Perth Saints Social Premier side got their league campaign off to a winning start thanks to a late strike from Frankie Ferreira at Tompkins Park on Sunday.

It was looking like a frustrating afternoon at the office for Brett Lambert's men as a stubborn Morley defence coupled with a lack of composure by the Saints in the final third of the pitch looked to condemn the game to a 0-0 result until Ferreira popped up five minutes before time to hit the winner from 18 yards.

Despite the Saints throwing Alex Vaughan into the defence at the last minute after Robbie Dunn and Dusan Sevo were no shows, the rearguard for the home side were virtually untested for the first 45 minutes with any forays forward by the visitors dealt with easily by the men in blue.

At the other end of the park, the Morley keeper was forced to make an instinctive block from a ferocious Ferreira drive and was again at his best to palm away a Walbach effort as the Saints looked for the breakthrough.

The home side forced a succession of corners that Morley struggled to deal with as Fitzpatrick failed to make the most of the time and space afforded to him in the box.

Despite their dominance, the Saints again went into half time without a lead to show for their efforts as the warm weather began to takes it toll on the players with tired legs evident through the second half.

The possession was still being controlled by the Saints however the two best chances of the second half fell to Morley on counter attacks, the first was blasted into the side netting with only the keeper to beat and the second was similar, with the defence caught out and it took an alert Ross Greer to block at the feet of the onrushing striker.

Fletcher, Murray and Roberts were awesome for the home side, but were unable to unlock the Morley defence as chances went begging and final passes were over hit.

As the Morley players and fans sensed they were to go home with a point, some slick interchange down the right side between Fletcher, Murray and Walbach presented the ball to Ferreira on the edge of the box and the winger obliged by sending his low first time effort into the bottom corner to sparks scenes of relief amongst the players and watching Saints supporters.

Whilst the margin could have been greater to the home side, they will nonetheless be pleased to begin the season with a three point haul that they will look to build on next week against North Beach.

April 15, 2008