SAINTS U18s coach Stewart Henderson felt his side’s lack of recent match action had a part to play in their exit from this season’s FA Youth Cup.

The fourth round clash against Watford last night was Saints’ first game for over a month, since they beat Derby 3-1 in extra-time in the last round on Wednesday December 10.

And Henderson felt that showed as Watford grew stronger in the second half and progressed to the last 16 after grabbing a 75th-minute winner.

“We have trained hard but you can’t beat real match fitness and most of the boys haven’t played for a long time," he said.

“And I think it showed. Maybe it was the same for them but we didn’t look right and however hard you train and try to simulate matches, you can only do so much and hope that they are fit enough to get through it.”

As he was against Derby, goalkeeper Andrej Pernecky was Saints’ stand-out performer against Watford.

And Henderson was full of praise for the 17 year-old Slovakian stopper and offered words of comfort to the custodian who was blaming himself for the goal which sealed Saints’ exit.

“He was very good against Derby and he kept us in until we got to grips with the game and got on top but tonight his handling was very, very good and his shot stopping was terrific," he said.

“He was outstanding.”

Henderson continued: “He blames himself (for the goal) but how can you have a pop at him after all the saves he has made during the game, particularly the second half?

“He is the very last line of defence and when he makes an error it is there for all to see.

“But what was also there for all to see was how well he performed.”