MATTHEW Le Tissier has taken a strong first step on his latest come-back trail by scoring one and making another as Saints beat Brighton 4-2 in a reserve team friendly at Staplewood.

After almost three months out with a recurring knee injury, Le Tissier came through the full 90 minutes yesterday with no problems, although he knows he is still some way short of full match fitness.

He said: "It was a nice, easy run-out, just what I needed for my first game. I was breathing a bit heavily but I got a second wind towards the end and felt good at the finish.

"The knee felt good, no problems at all. So now it is just a case of regaining match fitness so I need a few games.

"It does not help that next Monday's reserve fixture is off, but hopefully we will be arranging some more friendlies like this one.

"After so many set-backs I don't want to tempt fate by saying I am definitely going to be okay this time. It is a case of gradually building up and get a bit sharper with each match.

"This, at least, was a good step forward and there have not been too many of them recently."

Le Tissier's goal came from a penalty tucked away with his usual efficiency on 38 minutes after Uwe Rosler had been harshly judged to have been fouled.

Rosler himself had opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a simple side-foot home after being set up by a good cross from Matt Huxley on the left.

David Adams levelled with a perfectly clipped 18-yard shot seven minutes later but Ryan Ashford restored the lead with a rasping low drive from 22 yards on the half hour.

Le Tissier, who showed some neat touches and customary good vision without ever really excelling, twisted and turned before chipping onto the head of the unmarked Rosler to nod the fourth from eight yards 12 minutes from time.

Darren Freeman hit a post before Steve Melton fired a consolation from 16 yards in the final minute.

It was a good work-out for Saints who again went with three at the back indicating a possible shift in club policy following the arrival of Dan Petrescu.

Saints Reserves (3-4-2-1): Bevan; Baird, Warner, Gray; Bleidelis, Gibbens, Ashford (Wallace 65), Huxley, Caceres, Le Tissier, Rosler.