HSCL Division One St Peters 2 Bedmond S&S 1 TWO evenly matched sides fought out an end-to-end affair with the Saints coming out on top at Lemsford on Saturday. Both sides boasted a long unbeaten run of late with both scoring goals on a regular basis. The

HSCL Division One

St Peters 2 Bedmond S&S 1

TWO evenly matched sides fought out an end-to-end affair with the Saints coming out on top at Lemsford on Saturday.

Both sides boasted a long unbeaten run of late with both scoring goals on a regular basis.

The visitors looked dangerous on the break, attacking down both flanks and providing the Saints with a lot of defending to do.

Good defensive play, especially from 17-year-old goalkeeper Billy Barnes frustrated the visitors. When called upon Barnes pulled off a number of saves to keep his goal intact ably supported by an over-worked defence.

It wasn't one-way traffic as the Saints had their fair share of possession, although they weren't matching the visitors in terms of goalscoring chances.

They did, however, take the lead through leading scorer Richard Ellis. Ellis rose highest to head home a Chris Eames corner for his 10th goal of the season to give the Saints a 1-0 lead at the interval.

The visitors came out after the break determined to get on level terms but found the Saints defence carrying on the good work and keeping them at bay.

Both sides cancelled each other out as the play swung from one end to the other, chances coming and going as the pace of the game never eased off.

A darting run from just inside the opposition's half of the pitch from Danny Blyth resulted in goal number two for the Saints, as the winger beat his marker before firing beyond the Bedmond goalkeeper.

A penalty-kick provided Bedmond with a ray of hope, Ross Wiltshire penalised for a push on an opponent. The kick and the follow-up were both kept out by Barnes as the Saints held onto their two goal lead.

Minutes later the visitors did reduce the deficit with a close range effort.

The Saints had further chances to add to their total but were thwarted by the visiting goalkeeper.

Barnes again kept out the visitors' late rally, enabling his side to hold on to their finest result of the season against the best all-round opposition to date.

This latest achievement still doesn't move the Saints upwards in the league table but future results similar to this one must surely help them break into the top four positions.

Sarratt are the visitors to Lemsford on Saturday (KO 2pm)

St Peter's: Barnes; T Gauthier, Wilthsire, Jones; Sandiford, Stuart-Neal, Eames, Mardle (Lee), Blyth; M Hatchett, Ellis.