Saints didnt win the Memorial Trophy but will be pleased with their return to action against top quality opposition.
If anyone was expecting to see a plethora of Arsenal or Anderlecht stars for the tournament they were to be sadly disapointed, but with this game needing to be slotted in so early in pre season to accomodate the arrival of the Olympic torch, competitiveness was never going to be high on the agenda, but a good workout to blow out the cobwebs was.
Saints as expected mixed and matched the two teams that they put out, to give virtually everyone in their squad a game, although sadly there would be no Steven Davis and no Tadanari Lee, both presuambly still injured.
In the opening game, Saints in their new red kit lost to the Blegium side 1-0 after De Sutter scored for the visitors after kelvin Davis couldnt hold on to a shot, although the game had its moments, Anderlecht probably had the better of them and held on for the win.
In the second game Anderlecht were beaten by the same 1-0 score by Arsenal, meaning that the destination for the trophy hinged on the final game between Saints and Arsenal.
In the second match Saints switched to the white away kit, it was a swithc in personaly too with Dan Seabourne returning to action and Tommy Forecast in goal to name but two, on 31 minutes Saints took the lead with Jay Rodrigues heading home, but the lead didnt last long and Arsenal equalised through Gervinho for minutes later, with no points for a draw possible, it meant the game went to penalties which the Gunners won 5-4 to take two points and ensure that they collected a piece of silverware.
All in all there is little to take from this day as a pre season workout apart from the blowing out of the cobwebs, with five weeks still to go before the season a professional club usually wouldnt be playing this type of fixture, they would be at Eastleigh or the such like and even that is usually in the last four weeks, however this had to be played on this weekend to make it special with the Olympic Torch making an appearance.