Printer-friendly pageWednesday, January 10, 2007
Saints' second visit to damp Devon in a week was for an easy looking cup tie with forlorn Torquay United that gave the opportunity to rest players. As it happens, the regulars who were missing were either suspended or nursing injuries of one description or another: plenty of fans had a description for the injury that prevented Gareth Bale from becoming cup tied - convenient.
Saints had never won a competitive game at United's Plainmoor ground, and the home team's league form means we are unlikely to visit there again for a while, but it took a long time to take the lead on an inevitably heavy pitch. Not a goal to savour either, as the attempts by teenage keeper Horsell to prevent a corner succeeded not only in keeping the ball in play, but presenting it at the feet of Rasiak as well. It was a bit like applauding a car crash, and those of a generous disposition will have been glad for Horsell that he only had to wait a few minutes to get over the incident at half time.
The second and final goal was much more satisfactory, as Rasiak scored again with a powerful header from Licka's cross. Torquay's problems really stem from the inability of their forwards to make any headway, but our own accident prone goalkeeper encouraged them with an ill-judged excursion out of his area in each half; the opportunity to restore Bialkowski to the team with no-one losing face was missed. Otherwise what did we learn? That Powell is only barely fit enough for first team duties and Sarmiento continues to struggle in the English game, I'm afraid.
Man of the Match: Grzegorz Rasiak. The two goals are all anyone will remember.
