Wet weather forced the match to be shifted from Dixie Park to Findlay Park and United hit the ground running.

Saints ball movement was stifled by the boggy conditions and they found themselves down 1-0 early after goalkeeper Cameron Higham fouled Elliot Breaks in the box.

Matt Bale converted from the spot to give the Green Bloods the early lead.

They had their chances to double their advantage, but were thwarted by Saints last-ditch defending.

Saints coach John Goodman had no issue with the penalty being awarded despite the protests from his goalkeeper.

“I’ve got no issues with the pen, I can’t defend it,” he said.

“Cameron reckons he didn’t touch him, but from where I was standing I would have awarded it as well.”

Things went from bad to worse just before half-time when Saints captain Anthony Jamieson was sent off following a crude challenge.

The challenge itself resulted in a yellow card, but Jamieson was shown a second yellow moments after the incident for dissent.

Saints central defender Ty Marchant then scored a cracking equaliser with a shot from the edge of the box on the left-hand side.

His powerful strike nestled in the top right corner of the United goal to draw Saints level at the break.

United were unable to take advantage of their extra player in the second half, although winger Brendan Prince was controversially ruled offside.

Goodman was impressed with how his side responded following the send-off of Jamieson.

“The boys really dug in – that’s what pleased me the most,” he said.

“We played well so to come away with a 1-all draw against a team that had a good game plan was pleasing.”

He said his midfield had to work really hard to contain United’s overlapping players.

“Our midfield probably earned us the point because they just ran all day,” he said.

“We had our chances and unfortunately didn’t take them, but we did what we had to.”

The Saints coach felt a draw was the right result as three different results were possible up to and including the final five minutes.

“Even if we had have lost I wouldn’t have been too disappointed because I thought we played well,” Goodman said

“If we could have games like that every weekend that ended 2-1, 2-2, 3-2 or 1-all I’d be happy.

“As a spectator it was a really entertaining, end-to-end game and we had our chances and unfortunately didn’t take them, but we did what we had to.”