Palace reserves sign off the season with a score draw against the pop group. Full match report

And so after a year back in the FA's Premier reserve league, and having played far more games than last season, the season came to an end last night with a 1-1 draw at Selhurst against Alan Pardew's (who was in attendance) West Ham.

An entertaining display from as expected, a largely young line-up (and with both sides still having much to play for, the Hammers did the same) saw Palace have enough chances to win the match, but in the end they had to settle for a point.

Much of the experience on the pitch came from the strikers, with West Ham fielding the now largely lost Sergei Rebrov (not that you'd have noticed) and Palace countering by lining up with Nicola Ventola and Neil Shipperley up front. West Ham's other experience came from left back Rufus Brevett, who settled into central defence, and they had one other player on show who'd appeared at first team level.

It was the Hammers who opened procedings with a speculative shot driven well over the bar from outside the area in the third minute. Palace then had a succession of goal attempts to follow.

In the 10th minute Hall ran into the box from the left and drove a low shot on goal that the 'keeper stooped forward to collect. A minute following, Shipperley inside the area, sidestepped a defender on the right before also shooting into the 'keeper's arms.

Andrews had a slightly better effort 9 minutes later when he cut inside from the left and hit a low shot towards the near post that Hammers stopper Kuciak got down to and made a save.

The next opportunity didn't arise until the 30th minute, but it was then Palace again. A free kick from the middle of the park was met by a Danze cushioned header inside the left of the area, and the midfielder's nod lead to a swerving, driven shot from Shipperley, that curled over the bar.

West Ham's young midfielder David Cowley (who was looking fairly lively down the right) then cut into the Palace area just after, and unleashed a fierce low shot that had Julian
Speroni diving to make a save.

That was it for first half efforts, and the second period started one minute after kick off with Neil Shipperley chesting down a cross before turning and shooting on goal. The shot lacked power and a save was easily made.

A couple of minutes later, Ventola (who'd had a quiet first half) got to the right byeline before pulling the ball back to Danze on the edge of the area, who then slipped it sideways to Wayne Andrews. The snapshot was both with force and on target, but Kuciak dove to his left to push it away for a corner.

Ventola himself then cut in from the left just thereafter, before shooting wide of the same post. West Ham's response was two shots in five minutes, the first ballooned over the bar and the second resulting in the game's first goal.

Winning a free kick just outside the Palace penalty area, Cowley lined the ball up, before putting it past the Palace wall and in off the left post as the motionless Julian Speroni watched. 1-0 to the away side.

Palace's immediate response was 66th and 74th minute efforts from Wayne Andrews.

First he sped across the edge of the area before shooting with a low attempt, and then after good work on the right wing, he beat the defender and put an inviting low ball across the penalty area, that was just placed a yard or two too far ahead of the sliding Ryan Hall.

At the Palace end a minute or so after the goalkick, West Ham's Ephraim teased his way into the area before placing a shot into the side netting. Then with around 7 minutes remaining Palace grabbed the equaliser with a well worked move.

Wiggins jinked one way on the left wing near the corner flag and then back again before curling his cross into the penalty area. A classic Neil Shipperley head down/layoff followed and Wayne Andrews added the finishing touch by blasting a shot into the back of the net from over 12 yards out, to make it one all.

There was just time for one more effort though, as Andrews replicated his earlier move on the right wing and put another ball across the penalty area. The end product was
similar with this time, Danze just missing out on the ball.

A fairish result in the end, although Palace were more proliferate in front goal.

Currently the Eagles sit 2nd in the table, having now finished the league programme. Charlton have already been crowned champions having also finished, but Southampton and
Arsenal sit just behind Palace only points away and with still two games to play each.

Palace could finish 2nd, or possibly as low as 4th, depending upon upcoming games.

Whatever the end finish, it's been a successful first season back as this level.


Palace Team (4-4-2): Speroni, Fray, Wiggins, Welch, Wilson, Martin, R. Hall, Danze, Shipperley, Ventola, Andrews

Subs: Berry (For Ventola '64), Banks, Starkey, Spence, Watanabe


Match Stats:

Palace Shots/Headers: 13 (9 on target)
West Ham Shots/Headers: 7 (2 on target)

Palace Free Kicks: 9
West Ham Free Kicks: 10

Palace Corners: 5
West Ham Corners: 2

West Ham Crosses: 11
Palace Crosses: 6 (4 from left / 2 from right)
(Wiggins 3, Andrews 1, Berry 1, Hall 1)


Posted by alan