JAMES BEATTIE was among a trio of Saints who hit the comeback trail yesterday against the red-hot Socceroos of Australia's Olympic squad.

The good news was that the exciting young striker suffered no ill effects after cracking ribs and puncturing a lung in a fall on the eve of the new season.

The bad news was the Young England player was a virtual spectator as the Australian Under-23 side gave a Saints XI, made up of seven players with first team experience, the complete runaround.

David Hughes was back after a knee operation and alongside him in midfield was Chris Marsden who has been sidelined by a toe injury. As the well-drilled Aussies romped home 4-1 and and could have doubled their winning margin, Saints boss David Jones made his retreat before the ref blew the last whistle.

Coach Dennis Rofe spoke up on his behalf and pulled no punches. "The only good thing to come out of the game was that James, Chris and David came through okay. They were a good side; it's a pity we weren't up to giving them a bet-ter game."

Beattie threatened with a couple of headers, one a glancing near post effort which wasn't too far away, but clearly the youngster has a way to go before he regains full match fitness.

One good chance fell his way in the first-half and a half-hit shot proved an easy pick up for Australian goalkeeper Danny Milosovic. The only returnee with anything to smile about was midfielder David Hughes, who provided Saints' best moment of the game, swapping passes with John Beresford before rounding the keeper and netting Saints' only goal just 17 minutes into the game.

Marsden presented a sprightly, creative presence in the first-half, but with the rest of the men in red and white was reduced to chasing shadows in the second-half when the Australians brilliantly bossed the game.

Their status in world football is moving up by leaps and bounds, their players are technically strong and their team-play is superby integrated. The performance of red-haired centre-half Hayden Foxo must have given the Saints management food for thought.

The all-round skills of a young man who plays his football for Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan were quite awesome at Marchwood. Asked where Foxo plays his football, one of the Australian coaches answered: "He plays in Japan but he should be playing for Real Madrid." You wouldn't disagree with him on this show.

Saint's two youth teams are away to Coventry tomorrow morning in the FA Premier Academy.

Staplewood report - see page page 46 of tonight's Echo.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.