By Mark Gojsyzk

Title contender St. Albans Saints started its NPL 1 campaign in ideal fashion, defeating Springvale White Eagles 5-3 in an entertaining contest at the Serbian Sports Centre on Sunday.
 
After conceding the first goal, St. Albans took control of the game and always looked the more likely to take the three points, despite Springvale’s late goal.
 
In a dominant display from the away side, Sean McIlroy and Adam Nakic both scored braces in either half, with Barry Devlin adding the fifth for the Saints, while Nenad Pavasovic, Zoran Vukas and Ryan Don Paul netted for the home team.
 
The first 15 minutes of the contest began nervously with both sides easing their way into the new season.
 
The game burst into life in the 16th minute, however, when Springvale’s Pavasovic pounced on a missed defensive clearance to expertly place a shot past St. Albans’ keeper Stjepan Gal.
 
St. Albans struck back soon after when an unmarked Nakic connected with a pinpoint cross from Ryan Baldacchino, his header taking a deflection past Springvale number one Mathieu Tetron.
 
Just two minutes later, in a case of déjà vu, Nakic again headed home a vicious Baldacchino cross from the right wing.
 
In a flurry of goalmouth action, Vukas converted a 28th-minute penalty for the White Eagles following an illegal challenge in the box.
 
The away side desperately sought to re-install its lead, dominating territory but missing two guilt-edged chances.
 
However, the Saints were not to be denied a third time, with experienced defender Barry Devlin striking just before halftime when a muffed Springvale clearance from a corner kick saw the ball land at his feet for an easy tap-in.
 
After the break, St. Albans continued to dominate proceedings, unlucky not to extend its lead when a Devlin header was desperately saved on the goal line, and Craig Sweeney shot agonisingly wide of the post.
 
The visitors eventually did score again when McIlroy got on the end of a clever Konrad Dobraszkiewicz cutback.
 
Don Paul was brought on to add some spark to a fading Springvale attack, and the substitute gave the home side a glimmer of hope when his fortuitous cross-cum-shot sailed over the outstretched arms of Gal and into the back of the net.
 
However, St. Albans put the result beyond doubt when McIlroy’s powerful strike cannoned off the post and into the goal.
 
Springvale coach Zlatko Mihajlovic was happy to get the game out of the way, admitting his side was outclassed by a more experienced opposition.
 
“We’re just young heads and you get caught out. When you concede five goals at home you don’t expect to get anything out of the game,” Mihajlovic said.
 
“I knew this was going to be our toughest game.
 
“They’re (St Albans) obviously looking to win the league, we’re looking to develop some of the players that we’ve got.”
 
St. Albans coach Steve Laurie was satisfied with the result and his team’s killer instinct in front of goal, despite looking rusty early in the game.
 
“Early I wasn’t too happy, we weren’t keeping the ball enough, but as soon as we started to get on the ball, I thought we got into the game well,” Laurie said.
 
“Even though we conceded three, we were good value for our goals and I thought we could have had even more.”
 
Springvale now turns its attention to a Round 2 trip to Richmond, while St. Albans plays its first game at home against Bulleen.
 
MATCH DETAILS
 
FT: Springvale White Eagles 3 (Pavasovic 16’, Vukas 28’, Don Paul 85’) defeated by St. Albans Saints 5 (Nakic 21’ 23’, Devlin 43’, McIlroy 76’ 90’) at Serbian Sports Centre [HT 2:3]
 
Springvale White Eagles: 1. Mathieu Tetron [GK], 2. Andrew SKOULLOS, 3. Joey CALDERONE, 4. Simo JOVANOVIC, 6. Slavisa SARIC, 8. Joshua BOWEN (15. Abel FESSEHA 71’), 9. Nenad PASOVIC (16. Ryan DON PAUL 71’), 10. Paul MAGHIAR (Hamish MILLAR 56’), 17. Zoran VUKAS, 19. Vojislav MILOJEVIC, 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC
 
Unused Subs: 12. Bojan TOMIC, 24. Jamie DE SMIT
 
Yellow Cards: Saric 12’
 
Red Cards: Nil
 
St. Albans Saints: 1. Stjepan GAL [GK], 2. Ryan MCGUFFIE, 4. Barry DEVLIN, 5. Felix ROSMAN, 6. Martin MASON, 7. Juso JULARDZIJA, 8. Craig SWEENEY (14. Christopher ROSS 83’), 9. Sean MCILROY, 11. Ryan BALDACCHINO, 15. Konrad DOBRASZKIEWICZ, 17. Adam NAKIC
 
Unused Subs: 3. Anthony BORAS, 12. Liam FANCIS, 21. Tonio BARESIC, 29 Tomislav SAGOLJ
 
Yellow Cards: Devlin 70’, Dobraszkiewicz 90’.
 
Red Cards: Nil