The team is still without Dwight Beare and Wayne Devlin, who should return in the following weeks to add some rumble to the backline.

The Saints started poorly and found it hard to maintain possession, with Warrnambool creating numerous early opportunities.

The defence held up well, with Dave Ramage and Stuart Bates defending strongly.

Jack Nulty and Toneka Costa set up some great passes to the attackers, who were unable to score.

Warrnambool came close at the other end and hit the cross bar on one occasion, with Hudson Beare brilliantly clearing a certain goal away.

It was nil-all at half time.

The Saints lifted the tempo in the second half.

Schmidt was again the key player in the Saints' first goal, which was scored by goal sneak Dave Ramage.

Tobias set sail with an ambitious free kick that Nulty giftedly headed into the path of Ramage, who made no mistake from one metre out.

Susie Fox provided some valuable run down the wing and linked well with Bates and Nulty in the middle.

The Saints hung on to their one-nil lead all the way to the final whistle, proving they have what it takes to beat the top sides.

Goals: Dave Ramage

Best: Toneka Costa, Stuart Bates, Kym Riley, Jack Nulty, Dave Ramage

Soccer Under-11

DAYLESFORD played Forest Ranges at Russell Square Ballarat, on Sunday, June 22. A confident Saints team, on the back of a three-all draw and a one-all draw, settled into their fluent, direct-passing game. Early on, Bray Brookes, Ned Johns and

Aiden Mayger took control of the midfield.

Daylesford unleashed a storm resulting in five goals to John Villiers, one goal to Cam Ralph, one goal to Ned Johns and one goal to Braydon Brookes.