Latvian international Amants Bleidilis crowned an impressive appearance for Saints with the opening goal in their 5-0 FA Premier Reserve League destruction of Crystal Palace at Staplewood last night.

The Skonto Riga winger looks very comfortable on the ball, is a neat skilful player who possesses plenty of pace and he certainly caught the eye before being substituted after 60 minutes.

Coach Dennis Rofe explained: "It was always our intention to bring him off after an hour because he has an important game for Skonto Riga at the weekend.

"We've seen tonight what he is capable of and I'm sure every effort will be made to get him back over here again.''

With a little good fortune Bleidilis could have netted a hat-trick just as his fellow countryman Marian Pahars did on his Saints reserve team bow in February.

He opened the scoring after six minutes when Kevin Gibbens measured a pass through the Palace defence for Bleidilis to coolly fire under keeper Matt Gregg.

Another goalbound effort by Bleidilis hit a defender then the Latvian rolled a right-footed shot inches past the upright after another neat pass from Gibbens.

Gibbens also had a hand in Saints' second goal after 27 minutes. He robbed Sean Hankin to find Dani Rodrigues whose knock-back to Kevin Davies saw the striker tuck a well-directed 18-yard shot in the bottom corner.

A thumping drive from Ryan Ashford proved too hot for Gregg to handle on 68 minutes and Rodrigues was in like a flash to slide home from a narrow angle.

And the impressive young Ashford was the architect of Saints' fourth just five minutes later with a delightful ball over the top of the Palace defence for Rodrigues to lob the stranded keeper.

A hat-trick of assists from Gibbens was completed two minutes from time when he burst into the penalty area to pick out Davies for a simple finish.

SAINTS: Bevan, Hiley (Monk 75), Bridge, Howells, Almeida, Dryden, Bleidilis (Baird 60), Gibbens, Davies, Rodrigues (Webb 75), Ashford. Unused subs. Johnson, Sims.

REFEREE: MJ North (Bournemouth).

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