Disappointing defeat away at Aldershot

Palace reserves recent run of slightly disappointing form continued last night (5/12), with a 4-0 league defeat away to a young Chelsea side at Aldershot.

Last year in the corresponding fixture which Palace won, they had fielded the likes of Sorondo, Derry, Leigertwood and Torghelle, and yet in this game they still had the
upper hand on that count with Black, Hudson and Macken all featuring.

For Chelsea's part, they had many of the same players out as last year, so their policy of no first teamers continues and it was all youngsters with the impressive Filipe Morais on the right wing being only one of two players who really caught the eye.

There was also some in-balance in the Palace team. Ryan Hall started in the middle, and Tommy Black on the left, with Aaron Fray also filing in once again at left back,
although he was not given much change by Morais.

After some encouraging early Palace probing, the home side went close on 14 minutes. A cross from the right saw Morais rise at the far post after a deflection off the head of a
Palace defender, but the effort went around the post. From the resultant corner and then a free kick following, Danny Hollands flicked the ball over the bar.

Three minutes later and the Samsung's had the lead. Some good work in the middle from Simmonds lead to a pass from a central to left wing position and taking a step or so
forward, Hollands hit a strong low drive into the bottom right of the goal, past diving Rikki Banks for 1-0.

Palace's first response was on 25 minutes when Berry went past his man on the right wing and cut to the byeline where he pulled back a low ball to the near post. Grabban nipped in, in front of the nearest defender, but toe poked the ball just past the right goal post. Six minutes later and Morais again tried his luck as he sidestepped Hudson in the area, but pulled a shot over the bar.

With 39 minutes on the clock Palace had another opportunity. Black got past his man on the left and curled a cross into the area. Goalkeeper Ma-Kalamby came out amongst a group of players but fumbled and dropped the ball. In the ensuing Palace/Chelsea scramble the ball was eventually hooked away.

Morais (who was running the show for the home side, with most of their play going through him on the right) then dragged a shot wide just after half time, after a Chelsea
free kick and Ryan Hall booking just outside the penalty area.

The second half continued in much the same way, with Chelsea's short and sharp passing game keeping them most of the possession, and Palace mounting the occasional counter attack.

A Chelsea cross from the left just after the half time resumption was the first after break incident. It flew over all rising heads in the box. Morais was moving in at the far post and should have scored, but screwed his attempt well over.

Then as 55 minutes appeared on the clock, the 2-0 lead came up. Rikki Banks made a fine diving save and from the follow up corner taken by Chelsea's Tillen, Michael Mancienne
(the other Chelsea player of note on the night) rose to head in at the near goalpost past 'keeper and defence.

Only four minutes later on 59, and it was 3-0. A long goal kick punted down the left wing let Tillen clear and unmarked, and he cut in from the left and shot on goal with an effort that squirmed past Banks for the third.

Palace in between did manage a number of sortees forward, but often the final ball was lacking and possession was given away. with Macken and Grabban not looking like a
partnership, this didn't help either.

71 minutes saw Morais again involved in the play, and he cut in from the right and blasted a shot over the Palace bar a bit too eagerly.

The final moment of notable action came in the 82nd, as the fourth goal arrived. Young Rikki Banks did exceptionally well twice. First to keep out a fierce shot from
Mancienne, from around 6-7 yards which he parried away. The follow up attempt from Pettigrew was from even closer range, but again he managed to parry and beat the ball
away. Unfortunately it rebounded up in a stroke of luck for Chelsea to their substitute Sinclair, who was unmarked at the far post and had a simple task of nodding in from
only a yard out.

Not too many positives tonight. Palace didn't play enough like a team and there was no real balance in the side. Tommy Black made some good runs at times driting past players, but as is often his way, he then loses possession too easily and gives up. In this game that then lead to disheartenment later on when he made a rash challenge and was rightly yellow carded. Macken and Grabban were two strangers, with the former not seeing much of the ball, and no one in a forward position getting anything in the way
of service, Palace mustering only two shots on goal the home game.

Although in some respects this is an evolving and changing Palace young side at the moment, they can all do much better.

Palace Team: (4-4-2) Banks, Starkey, Fray, Welch, Hudson (c), Wilson, Berry, R.Hall, Grabban, Macken, Black

Subs: Spence (for Macken '70), Wilkinson, Straker (For Welch '86), Peltonen, Swaibu (For Hudson '70)



Posted by alan