Westinsure St Lukes Cup
Plymouth Parkway 0 Torquay United 6
United starting line-up: Bevan; Rowe-Turner, Ellis, Robertson, Nicholson, Knight (Yeoman 70), Thompson (c), Stevens, Thomson (Beattie 46), Benyon, Carayol. Subs: Halpin, Taylor, Searle (gk)
Parkway: Elphick; Kinsman, Thirkettle (Bonney 34), Fenwick, Morris (Hawke 46), A. Cusack (c), Pearse (Edwards 67), Daniels, Sargent, Wright, K. Smith. Subs: D.Smith, M. Cusack.
Attendance: 149
A strong United line-up rattled in six unanswered goals at Plainmoor against a spirited Plymouth Parkway side in tonight's St. Lukes Cup tie. Superior fitness proved the biggest difference between the two teams in a match that contained an 11 minute second half hat-trick from Mustapha Carayol.
Lathaniel Rowe-Turner started at left back with Kevin Nicholson & Mark Ellis forming the central partnership with Chris Robertson taking up the right back berth. New youth loan signing Josh Knight took up the right wing with Jake Thomson on the left and Danny Stevens & skipper Tyrone Thompson covering central midfield. Mustapha Carayol & Elliot Benyon started as the front two.
Josh Knight is a midfielder who has most recently been with West Bromwich Albion is a Wales Under 21 international.
United's line-up contained three players who featured in the 2-1 defeat to Port Vale on Saturday; Jake Thomson who started against Vale and Scott Bevan & Elliot Benyon who came on as substitutes.
United dominated from the kick-off and took the lead in the 7th minute when a right foot cross to the far post from Knight was side footed home from 8 yards by Mark Ellis.
Goal: United 1 (Ellis 7) Plymouth Parkway
Shortly afterwards United nearly doubled their lead when Mustapha Carayol turned well but his goal bound shot was deflected for a corner. From the set-piece Chris Robertson headed wide from 12 yards.
Parkway's first effort on goal came in the 21st minute when Sargent took a snap-shot from 22 yards but the ball was always rising and never troubled Scott Bevan. The match was being played at a good pace and perhaps not surprisingly United were dominating proceedings.
Mustapha Carayol hit the post in the 24th minute after being put through down the left channel with a right foot side-foot when one-on-one with Elphick in the Parkway goal. From the rebound the ball was cleared to safety.
Elphick was forced into a neat save when Carayol back heeled the ball to Jake Thomson in the 27th minute but the Parkway 'keeper did well to parry Thomson's shot wide.
Elphick denied Carayol again soon after with a smart block at Mustapha's feet but he could do nothing in the 31st minute to stop United doubling their lead when he was beaten by a very neat finish from Josh Knight who lifted the ball over the on-rushing 'keeper.
Goal: United 2 (Knight 31) Plymouth Parkway 0
United dominated the remainder of the half but couldn't add to their two goal tally.
One change at the break for United with Jake Thomson making way for Ryan Beattie who came in at centre midfield with Danny Stevens reverting to the left side.
Mark Ellis had a chance to double his personal goal count for the evening when he controlled a far post corner but he was leaning back and the ball flew over the crossbar and very nearly into the bar!
Parkway had a little more of the ball as the second half began but United were pressing them back, particularly down United's left with Rowe-Turner and Carayol getting into some good attacking positions.
Danny Stevens produced a superb solo run in the 58th minute but his right foot shot from 16 yards eat both Elphick and the left hand post. Seconds later and another pacey break down the left by Carayol finished with a decent cross that Elliot Benyon got to first but his header from six yards was a yard over the crossbar.
As some of the Parkway players tired United were attacking at will and Carayol in particular had the beating of the Plymouth defence but the final ball could have been better.
In the 69th minute Bonney brought Carayol down inside the area and Mustapha dusted himself down and slotted the penalty away sending Elphick the wrong way.
Goal: United 3 (Carayol 69 pen) Plymouth Parkway 0
Three minutes later and Danny Stevens produced another positive attacking run skipping past a couple of challenges before beating Elphick low down with a right foot shot from 16 yards.
Goal: United 4 (Stevens 72) Plymouth Parkway 0
Moments later and United scored their fifth goal when Elliot Benyon latched on to a long ball down the right channel and squared for Carayol to slide the ball in from a yard out.
Goal: United 5 (Carayol 74) Plymouth Parkway 0
Mustapha completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute when he collected the ball 25 yards out, dribbled into the Parkway area, and then beat Elphick with a left foot shot from 16 yards.
Goal: United 6 (Carayol 80) Plymouth Parkway 0
Ashley Yeoman should have scored with a six yard header in the final minute but it would have been harsh on Parkway to conced a seventh. The final attack of the night went to Parkway when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out but Sargent's effort hit the wall and went to safety.
Final Score: Plymouth Parkway 0 United 6
