In yesterday's game, played in front of a well-attended, and sometimes boisterous audience at Wellington Oval, St. George's managed to squeak by a young, inexperienced and ineffective St. David's outfit by a lone goal.

The first 25 minutes of the game saw both sides struggle with misdirected passing and little running off the ball.

While St. George's enjoyed the better control of play, they failed miserably to finish off plays as their offence sputtered time and time again as they approached the St. David's goal.

The home side are better known for a stingy defence, St. David's provided them with numerous opportunities to pad their scoring total for the season.

St. David's offered some resistance early during this encounter but their lack of experience up front was evident as proven goal-scorer Jerry Laws had little supporting cast on the afternoon.

St. George's began to assert themselves more after the half as they settled down and played more constructive and entertaining soccer. From the 50th to 60th minute of play they came close to scoring as Neil Paynter had three headers turned aside for corners by St. David's stand-in goalkeeper, Reggie Pitcher.

St. George's, no doubt sensing a kill, stepped up the pressure on the St.

David's defence and were rewarded in the 71st minute when Dwayne Richardson sent a shot under the outstretched keeper from inside the six-yard box as the defence failed to clear.

Undaunted by the score, St. David's continued to mount attacks only to see the St. George's defence take them out of their rhythm with solid tackling and tight man-to-man coverage.

St. David's brought on Lionel Cann in an attempt to inject some offensive punch into their attack, but it was not to be on this afternoon as they were either repelled by the St.George's defence or suffered from their own inefficiency and lack of creativity to score.

St. David's only real threatening opportunity to score came in the final minute of play when Del Hollis made a long throw-in from the sideline that skittered between several players and ended with St. George's 'keeper Troy Hall smothering the ball at the foot of the near post.

St.George's: T.Hall, A.Todd, N.Paynter, F.Greaves, S.Denbrook, K.Smith, D.Smith (J.Cieters, 65 mins), S.Smith (D.Minors, 34 mins), M.Outerbridge, D.Whitfield, D.Richardson.

St. David's: R.Pitcher, S.Jones, C.Waldron, G.Swainson, S.Pitcher, A.Darrell, M.Dill, C.Laws, J.Laws, J.Pitcher (D.Hollis, 59 mins), S.Weekes (L.Cann, 70 mins).

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Dwayne Richardson (St. George's); Garic Swainson (St.

David's).