LEICESTER POLSKA made it 5 wins in 7 games for 2013 after beating Horse 3-1 on possibly the worst pitch they have ever played on (and that includes Fairfield Dynamo before Christmas). It was also the first time they had beaten Horse in a competitive Alliance League game. As the snow fell and the rain kept pace alongside, Polska started the game very brightly, and spent most of the first half hour in Horse's half. Despite the sub zero temperatures, Jarek Kwiatkowski opened the scoring on 29 minutes with a long range shot from a Marek Dziopa pass. But then Polska seemed to stop playing after that, and after a spell of Horse pressure, they equalised on 33 minutes through Jonny Davison. In the second half, Horse continued to play some good football, but Polska went 2-1 up on 64 minutes after Karol Osipinski saw his goal mouth scrambled effort creep over the line. Actually, he didn't see it, but Horse linesman Mark Whait certainly did and flagged to draw the goal to the attention of excellent match official Keith Smith. The Horse players were far from convinced, but Mark insisted his honesty should not be called into question (apart from when it is his round) and the goal stood. Lukasz Tabaka, having a morning off to recover from his niggling knee injury, couldn't wait any longer and came on on 57 minutes, only to come off again 18 minutes later after falling on his suspect knee. Substitute Max Sieczka then lobbed the keeper on 93 minutes after a through ball from Osipinski to make it 3-1 and seal the game. PLAYER RATINGS: PAJAK: Excellent save first half but otherwise didn't have a lot to do. Solid as ever. DZIOPA: In true Mastercard fashion: the look on his face when he was substituted on 70 minutes: Priceless. OSIPINSKI: Man of the match for me, scored one and created one, and never stopped running through the swamp. WYSOCZANSKI: Replaced at half time by Krogulec. WASIK: Was much better second half as a left back than he was first half as a right wing midfielder. ALAN CHATER: Superb game from the Polska skipper. MARK CHATER Superb game from the Polska skipper's brother. KWIATKOWSKI: Great first goal, and again impressed with his skill and deft touches. Has played his way into the final? SZMIT: Started well in conditions far from ideal for him, produced a series of long balls second half. WIECZOREK: Replaced on 57 minutes by Tabaka. WISNIEWSKI: Looked sharp flying down the left wing, and no longer looks rusty as he did a few weeks ago. SUBS: KROGULEC: Had a lot of room down the wide right second half. TABAKA: 18 cameo to rest his injury before...coming off injured. SIECZKA: Became the first Polska sub to score this season, and the first since Tom Lane in January 2012. |