The Saints were dealt a blow just before kick off when Kevin Jones pulled out with a back injury, also missing were club captain Stuart Davies and the experienced Chris Preece so it was left to the youngsters to see what they could do, to be fair Newbridge were a very young side as well.
Right from the off the Saints were on top but spurned two or three good chances and on their very first break away the visitors nearly scored, the strikers effort going just over the bar, more Saints pressure followed but again chances were spurned. The visitors went ahead after 10 minutes, a shot from the left was paried by Tom Lewis, a Newbridge striker was the first to react and rolled the ball into an empty net. 0-1
Our equaliser came after 20 minutes, the visiting keeper who had made several good saves in the opening exchanges took a poor goal kick which Brendan Hackett pounced on and sprinted into the box to finish from 8 yards 1-1. Just a few minutes later we went ahead for the first time, striker Jack Biggs chipped an inch perfect ball to the on running Hackett who again finished with ease for 2-1.
Centre half Steve Goodwin hit a 40 yard pass to Biggs who controlled it well before hitting a low shot past the diving keeper for 3-1. Biggs was in the thick of it again when he put a through ball to Rob McNamara who made it 4-1. To Newbridges credit they didn’t drop their heads and in fact a minute later after a mix up at the back they pulled a goal back to make it 4-2 at half time.
The first ten minutes of the second half was pretty even until the impressive Rory Hackett cleared a ball out of defence which was flicked on by Biggs to B.Hackett who rounded the keeper for 5-2. Adam Finn and Phil Davies were on top in the centre of the park putting our attacking players on the front foot and just one minute after netting his hat-trick Hackett got his fourth, yet again it was that man Biggs with the assist. 6-2.
With 10 minutes to go the goal of the game was scored by McNamara, captain Josh Davies crossed to the far post and the striker hit a beaut of a shot from 16 yards giving the keeper no chance. 7-2.
With a couple of minutes to go it was 7-3 after a long punt from a free kick into the box went straight in. Ft 7-3.
Deadly duo Hackett and Biggs
Captain Josh Davies holds off a Newbridge player.
Defender Tom James.
Josh Davies and Tom James.
The Gaffer for the day and Jamie Howard.
Jack Biggs.
Brendan and Josh celebrating the second goal.
Philly D with Macca looking on.
Tom and Tom.
Action from today.
Youngster Adam Finn.
Macca (Little and Large).
Sam Bradley goes close from a corner.
Rory Hackett who impressed again and Adam Finn.
Steve Jones, Philly D and Sam Bradley.
Photos by Stuart Townsend.
We dominated from the off and deserved the three points, we made some silly mistakes for their goals, Newbridge were a young side and to their credit they never dropped their heads. There were a few good performances today, Rory Hackett did well again as did Adam Finn, Phil Davies never stopped running, Biggsy had a zillion assists but my man of the match goes to Brendan Hackett who scored four and terrified them every time he had the ball.
Team- Tom Lewis, Tom James(Steve Jones), Sam Bradley, Steve Goodwin(Steve Jones), Rory Hackett, Rob McNamara, Adam Finn, Phil Davies(Jamie Howard), Josh Davies(c), Jack Biggs, Brendan Hackett.