Fitz Hall scored his first goal for Saints yesterday as they battled out a 2-2 draw with Millwall in the August heat.

The game at the New Den was virtually played in quarters as the referee stopped both halves midway through for the players to take on board much-needed refreshments under an unrelenting sun.

The heat doubtlessly played a factor in keeping the game quite low-key, but there were still four goals for the 4,361 fans to enjoy.

Brett Ormerod scored his first of the pre-season campaign to give Saints the lead on 15 minutes.

Anders Svensson's deep cross from the left was collected by Paul Telfer, who made for the by-line.

From there he pulled it back across the face of the six-yard box where Ormerod slid in front of his marker at the near post to direct the ball past Tony Warner.

Before that Graeme Le Saux, in his best performance in a Saints shirt so far, had tested Warner a few minutes before the goal with a low shot.

The keeper also needed to be alert just before half-time when the Channel Islander forced him to tip the ball over the bar.

From the resulting Matt Oakley corner, James Beattie's high header was caught by the keeper.

Saints were generally quite solid in the first half and, despite having the look of a slightly second string defence, they coped well with everything that was thrown at them.

Trialist keeper Javier Sanchez Broto, who again played 45 minutes - as he had done on Friday at Reading but this time in the first half - had to be on his guard to protect Saints' lead three minutes after the goal when Paul Ifill's volley into the ground appeared to be heading for the top corner before a dramatic one-handed save.

The only other moment of worry for Broto was when he came for a cross and missed his punch but Tim Cahill headed wide of the post.

Paul Jones replaced Broto at half time as both sides made changes to protect players from the stamina-sapping conditions. Also introduced for Saints were Michael Svensson, Fabrice Fernandes and Rory Delap.

Ifill continued to provide the major threat for the Lions - as he did in both FA Cup fourth round matches between the sides last season - and his industry led to Millwall's first equaliser.

On 59 minutes he beat Michael Svensson to the ball and chased it down the left touchline. He kept it in on the by-line and pulled the ball back for Neil Harris, who swept the ball first time into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

But it took Saints only three minutes to regain their lead through centre half Hall.

Danny Higginbotham was fouled on the left touchline and Anders Svensson swung in a low free-kick.

It seemed innocuous enough but Hall managed to slide in and jab a foot at the ball which looped high and over substitute keeper Willy Gueret.

Youngster Arron Davies, who had scored a hat-trick for the reserves at Salisbury last week, came on for Ormerod after 66 minutes and worked hard as he tried to prove it could be a big season for him if he gets a chance.

But it wasn't easy, especially as Millwall equalised ten minutes after he was introduced.

Ifill again caused the problems as he was able to skip past several Saints players before hitting a firm, low shot across Jones.

The Welsh keeper produced a brilliant one-handed save to keep it, out but Harris was first to the re-bound and smashed it high into the net from an acute angle on the left.

Beattie twice came close to snatching a late winner as his free-kick curled just wide of the post and later his low header was stopped by Gueret.