WHEN it comes to men’s Premier League Hockey it is no great secret that St Pat’s co-captain Jaden Ekert is a man who doesn’t give an inch, but even he admitted the Saints were lucky to finish Saturday’s match against Orange Wanderers with a 2-all draw.

The Saints twice had to come from behind to square the ledger at the Cooke Hockey Complex, Ekert’s successful penalty corner strike with two minutes and 31 seconds left on the clock saving his side from what would have been their third loss of 2016.

“They’re a good side, they have put it to everyone in the comp and they are a deserved top-four side, so credit to them. But as for us - our passing was non-existent, we weren’t stepping up in defence - all the things we pride ourselves on we just didn’t do,” Ekert said.

“It is frustrating. You always give 100 per cent, and you always want the result, but to get a draw today, we were lucky, we were really lucky.

“They took it to us from the outset and we just weren’t switched on.”

While Ekert was far from pleased with the effort his side produced, there were plenty of smiles in the Wanderers dugout come full-time.

The performance was a vast improvement from what they showed seven days earlier when going down 3-1 to Souths, and that the Wanderers did it without a number of star players made it even better.

“I think we knew it was going to be a hard job and we came out with that mentality, and I think we knew we were capable of doing it this time,” Alex Said, the proud Wanderers skipper, said.

“We had a few late injury pull-outs before the game and that hurt and Matt [Johnson] hurt himself as well, so everyone dug deep and the young fellas all really stepped up.

“I think we have always known we can do it - we have got the team on paper - but it is just putting those performances together. We had three or four good wins before we played Souths last week - that was a step backwards for us, so it was good to bounce back today.”

Before Ekert’s late goal salvaged a draw for Pat’s, there was plenty of drama. 

Wanderers midfield talent Matt Johnson slipped and pulled a groin muscle after five minutes and took no further part in the game, while both sides missed penalty strokes in the second half.

Wanderers goalkeeper Daryl Kennewell was superb as he not only blocked Tobbie Muldoon’s stroke, but twice pulled off double saves in the opening half. His efforts played a large role in the Saints converting just two of 10 penalty corner attempts.

From the opening whistle it was clear Wanderers were hungry to upset the competition leaders, the first of their five penalty corners for the match coming after 90 seconds.

While they were unable to convert that chance - and others that fell their way early - it did not cost them as it had in the past. Down the other end of the field the visitors were just as strong, dropping players back inside the circle to make it hard for Pat’s to get any clear-cut shots on goal.

With around 20 minutes gone the Saints started to enjoy a greater share of possession, and while Ekert, Muldoon, Luke Thorncraft and Brent Naylor all came close, they were unable to beat Kennewell.

It was in the final 10 minutes of the half that both teams opened their accounts - Nick Sharp finding the mark with a drag flick into the top right of the goal before Prekash Titheridge came up with a reply off a  set play for Pat’s.

The second half played out much like the first, with both Kennewell and his opposite Taylor Newton coming up with some sharp saves.

Wanderers had the lead again with just over 20 minutes remaining when James Shakeshaft pounced on a loose ball during a penalty corner play after Thorncraft had cleared the first attempt off the line.

Pat’s had a golden chance to equalise when a Wanderers defender was struck on the line and a penalty stroke was awarded, but Kennewell got his glove to Muldoon’s attempt.

Some 90 seconds later Wanderers were sent to the spot when Michael Dillon was taken down in the circle, but Sharp’s effort missed to the right.

As the clocked ticked down Wanderers failed to convert on a three-on-one situation that could have sealed the win, but even after Ekert came up with his late equaliser, the visitors found it hard to be disappointed with a 2-all draw.

ST PAT’S 2 (Prekash Titheridge, Jaden Ekert) drew with ORANGE WANDERERS 2 (Nick Sharp, James Shakeshaft).