By Christopher Hearn (@_ChrisHearn)
 
St Albans has triumphed against FC Bendigo 2-1 on Sunday thanks to goals from Craig Sweeney and Adam Nakic, after Matthew Breeze put the visitors ahead.
 
The Saints were pegged back on 40 minutes thanks to Bendigo midfielder Breeze, but were a different beast after the interval and powered home for a comeback victory.
 
In what is becoming a recurring theme for Bendigo, its inconsistency cost it as a great first half was followed by a dour second.
 
The opening period of the game was difficult for either side to gain momentum. Both sets of defenders dropped deep and resorted to long balls to alleviate pressure.

St Albans was the first to find its feet, and unlucky not to go ahead.
 
Sean McIlroy was guilty of spurning the best chance, as Nicholas Cullen’s devilish delivery found the striker unmarked, but his connection was poor.
 
Midfielders Brodie Paterson and Sweeney threatened as their interplay caused many problems for Bendigo, but it remained resolute.
 
As the Saints’ pressure dropped, Bendigo worked its way into the game and began to give strikers George Slefendorfas and Amara Kromah service through the wide channels.
 
St Albans’ superior ball movement continued to give it openings, but on 40 minutes it would pay the ultimate price for committing too many men forward.

Bendigo goalkeeper Sebastian Mattei saw Slefendoras with no Saints defender within 10 yards. His punt upfield found the striker on the right wing, before he spotted Breeze’s fantastic run from deep and teed up the midfielder to drive the ball past Stjepan Gal.
 
The Saints reacted in a positive manner after halftime.

Sweeney’s incessant pressure on anyone in white was particularly impressive, and his hard work paid off four minutes into the second period.

Two-goal hero against Kingston City last week, Juso Julardzija’s cross found McIlroy, and his header was parried before Sweeney arrived late to sweep home the equaliser.
 
The Saints’ tails were up, and the vocal home support similarly grew in stature before they went ahead through Nakic in the 67th minute.
 
Nakic collected possession unopposed and let fly from 25 yards, as Mattei’s goal was breached for the second time in 18 minutes.
 
Bendigo’s forward forays were few and far between in the closing stages with the Saints all too comfortable in knocking the ball around.

The home side held on for its third win of the campaign, with Bendigo remaining winless.

“It was a disappointing result in the end after being up at halftime,” Bendigo coach Steve Martin said.

“We came out a bit flat and got penalised with some sloppy goals.”
 
Saints coach Toby Paterson lamented the defending which led to Bendigo’s goal, but was pleased with the performance.

“It was disappointing to concede that first goal, it was absolutely stupid,” Paterson said.
 
“We responded brilliantly, we did brilliantly, very pleased with that.”
 
“We’ve got the break next week and I am carrying a few injuries, so it couldn’t have come at a better time.”

MATCH DETAILS

St Albans Saints 2 (Sweeney 49, Nakic 67’) defeated FC Bendigo 1 (Breeze 40’) at Churchill Reserve (HT: 0-1)

St Albans Saints: 1. Stjepan GAL (GK) 2. Ryan MCGUFFIE (15. Konrad DOBRASZKIEWICZ 51’) 4. Barry DEVLIN 5. Felix ROSMAN 6. Martin MASON (14. Christopher ROSS 81’) 7. Juso Julardzija (12. Liam Francis 82’) 8. Craig SWEENEY 9. Sean MCILROY (16. Ajak PAVEK 88’) 10. Brodie PATERSON 13. Nicholas CULLEN 17. Adam NAKIC

Unused Substitutes: 12. Liam FRANCIS 21. Tonio BARESIC-NIKIC



Yellow Cards: Sweeney 14’

Red Cards: Nil

FC Bendigo: 1. Sebastian MATTEI (GK) 4. Aaron COHEN (Tom SHAPER 86’) 5. Josh NAUNTON 6. Alon BLUMGART 7. Trent WATERSON 9. George SLEFENDORFAS (15. Zakary KINSMAN) 10. Matthew BREEZE, 11. Amara KROMAH (17. Jonathan RYAN 65’) 13. Finn HUZZEY (3. Daniel REED 60’) 14. Ryan DAVIDSON 16. Steve MARTIN

Unused subs: 12. Josh NAUNTON, 22. Chris XERRI
 
Yellow cards: Huzzey 34’, Kromah 43’, Breeze 58’, Slefendorfas 70’
 
Red cards: Nil