Saints reserves scored a late equaliser to earn a draw against Crystal Palace. 

Darren Powell returned from injury, ironically on the day when Saints signed a new central defender to head home an equaliser on 81 minutes against Crystal Palace at Staplewood.

A Saints side finely balanced between youngsters, squad players and the likes of Powell struggled early on against Palace and conceded after only 17 minutes, however they survived a few scares and hung on in there to be in the position that when Powell headed home an Adam Hamill free kick it mattered rather than being merely a consolation goal.

It was a good run out for a few of the squad players notably Vignall, Licka and Hamill and the first game for Powell since his appearance at St Mary'sin the opening day disaster against the same club.

Back then Powell was considered pretty much the first choice central defender in a squad rather thin on the ground, indeed Powell was alongside his opening day partner Alan Bennett, Bennett has made only one more appearance since due to a different reason that Powell, but it has to be said that its hard to see either playing much part in the first team this season, with the arrival of Wayne Thomas, Mettomo and now Andrew Davies, Saints are starting to look strong in the central position of the back four, not to mention Christian Dailly and the return of Claus Lundekvam in the new year, that all add up to few chances for the bennett/ Powell combination.

Nothing can really be taken from the reserve team game tonight apart from the fact that powell is back but for how long, for after all here is a man who hasnt played that much in his first two seasons at St Mary's, and doesnt, has already missed a quarter of this season and doesnt look likely to play much more.   

Photo: Action Images via Reuters