Zig Zag were able to frustrate the competition leading Saints for much of the first half, 14-year-old goalkeeper Logan Hunter making some good blocks for the Lithgow side in his Premier League debut.

But when the Saints did get things to click in patches they showed how devastating they could be.

After scoring just one goal in the first 12 minutes, the Saints put away three in as many minutes and never looked back.

They led 6-0 at half-time and added five in the second stanza, Matt Naylor finishing with six goals to his credit.

Saints coach Jaden Ekert acknowledged his side were not at their lethal best, with passes missing sticks and ill-timed shots, but it was hard for him to be too disappointed given the final scoreline.

“Sometimes you end up playing how the team reacts. We were up 6-0 at half-time and took it easy. There was no intensity from us in that second half. But in saying that, we still scored five goals, so that was pretty good,” he said.

“We did look good when we played with a bit of width; we were swinging it both sides and we haven’t had a lot of that this season. We are lucky because we have got guys that can play on both sides too. Guys are not set in set positions.

“It was a good result, but we are working week-to-week and that is our main goal – it has been from the start. If we change that mindset, things can go pear-shaped.”

Zig Zag conceded early when a Naylor drag-flick from the first of the Saints’ eight penalty corners for the match found its mark, but after that the Lithgow side were able to frustrate their opponents.

Hunter made some good blocks, including shutting down Josh Toole in a one-on-one, while Matthew Winterbottom made a pair of excellent tackles inside the circle.

Zig Zag pulled all their players behind the ball in an effort to hold out the Saints, but with the glut of possession the blue and whites enjoyed it was only a matter of time before they scored again.

Goal two came 13 minutes from the break when Ekert attacked along the baseline and cut the ball back to Naylor. Ekert scored 90 seconds later, then Naylor powered in another drag-flick. 

It took the score from 1-0 to 4-0 in the space of three minutes and it spurred on the Saints.

Ekert had his second on the back of a Sam Macpherson counter-attack down the right wing, while Naylor added another from a penalty corner set piece.

It was effectively game over at half-time as Pat’s led 6-0, but 25 seconds after play resumed in the second stanza they were caught napping and Luke Sheppeard scored for the visitors.

Daniel Sheppeard also finished with a goal to his name as he scored on the back of a quick counter-attack, but other than that Zig Zag rarely threatened as they lacked width and vision when working the ball out of their half.

Even though they were at times scrappy, the Saints were still potent in attack. Ekert finished with a hat-trick, Naylor added three more goals to his first half treble, while young talents Aiden Charters and Riley Hanrahan contributed to the 11-goal performance as well.

“That was Aiden’s first prem goal and good on him too, he’s a young kid with a lot of talent and it is kids like that you need to keep at the club,” Ekert said.

“Aiden, James [Martin] and Riley [Hanrahan] all played well for us today; those young kids really stood up. They have been with us now for about 18 months and it is showing.”

ST PAT’S 11 (Matt Naylor 6, Jaden Ekert 3, Aiden Charters, Riley Hanrahan) defeated LITHGOW ZIG ZAG 2 (Daniel Sheppeard, Luke Sheppeard)