EMERGING young strikers Dani Rodrigues and Shayne Bradley both found the net at Staplewood last night as Saints opened their new FA Premier Reserve League campaign with an impressive victory over Watford.

It was an excellent performance by Saints who treated an above average crowd to some delightful football. Their passing and movement was pin-sharp which helped create an abundance of chances in front of the Hornets goal and they could have easily doubled or even trebled their final tally.

Saints opened the scoring after 34 minutes just moments after Bradley had been denied in a one-on-one with Watford goalkeeper Chris Andrews.

The ball was quickly returned by Garry Monk who threaded a delightful ball through the defence to release Rodrigues whose shot trickled over the goalline.

Five minutes later Wayne Bridge's cross from the left dropped just out-side the penalty area and Bradley swivelled to crack a superb effort beyond Andrews.

The introduction of Brazilian trialist Antunez for John Beresford at the start of the second half saw Saints briefly lose their momentum and it was Antunez who scuffed a golden opportunity to make it three on the hour mark.

Saints even missed a penalty 17 minutes from timeafter Adam Sims had been pulled down by the keeper, Bradley fiercely lashing the ball against the underside of the bar.

Andrews was kept busy and excelled with three top drawer saves to thwart Bradley, Antunez and Sims as Saints continued to carve out openings almost at will.

SAINTS: Moss, Baird, Colleter (Sims 62), Gibbens, Monk, Marshall, Williams, Rodrigues, Bradley, Beresford (Antunez 45), Bridge. Unused subs. Wallace, Collins, Blaney.

WATFORD: Andrews, Gibbs, Perpetuni, Bakalli, Ward, Panayi, Gudmundsson, Smith, Brooker, Johnson, Brathwaite. Unused subs. Forde, Lee, Neill, Dickie, Gilder.

REFEREE: LW Probert (Bridgwater, Somerset).

ATTENDANCE: 756.

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