Full match report from the reserves pre-season defeat

A below par display last night (2/8) saw Palace reserves go down to a 1-0 pre-season defeat away to Crawley Town at their Broadfield stadium ground.

Whilst this was by no means as bad as the last time that Palace played there pre-season (which I won't go into for those with long memories !) it was a long way from how well
some of the players can perform, and this particular Palace line-up had also only played one pre-season match compared to the five or six the home side have already taken part in
against league opposition. Of course if you were superstitious, you might also want to believe that we lost due to the Palace connection, with all of Dave Swindlehurst, David Woozley and Robbie Kember involved with the Sussex side in some capacity. The latter two in the side and on the bench on the night.

Team: A return from niggling injury for Tony Popovic and Danny Granville, with the latter now presumably taking up his place in the squad for the first home (first team) game of the season this weekend. Tommy Black was also on show in right midfield, and with midfielders and wingers in abundance, Lewis Grabban and Tyrone Berry were upfront with Ryan Hall behind them in an unfamiliar central midfield role. Left back Nathan Simpson filled in where Hall normally would have been in left midfield.

Palace began brightly in the 4th minute. Berry in space on the left of the area hit a shot toward the far right corner of the net from an angle, that 'keeper Smith clawed away
from the home goal at the second attempt. Danze should have done better two minutes after, when meeting Black's cross from the right he prodded the ball over the bar from 6-8 yards or so.

Crawley's response between the 14th and 23rd minute was from two shots. First Simon Wormull shot over the bar, followed by Davidson's easily saved shot on target.

Another chance came Palace's way one minute later. Grabban controlled and knocked the ball down in the box, but Berry scuffed his shot tamely goalwards.

The only goal of the match then arrived in the 33rd minute. With both Wilson and Popovic missing their chance of getting possession, a pass in the area to Wormull
allowed him to shoot into the bottom right corner of the net past Banks from around 8 yards out. 1-0 to the home side.

Palace almost equalised soon after though. Grabban (who was looking the most lively attacking player for the Eagles) hit a low skimming shot from outside the area toward
the right side of the net. The 'keeper got down late and touched the ball around for a corner.

From that very corner on the right almost came a spectacular goal, as Grabban met it with a full on volley from 20 yards that was only stopped from hitting the top left corner of the net by a header away from goal a yard or so out.

The half closed with Wilson departing through injury almost on the whistle, and a Crawley cross from the left that bounced off the Palace crossbar and behind to safety.

There was then a short pause in the second half before it came to life. Berry in the 58th minute turned the defence twice on the left hand side of the penalty area before
centring the ball where Danze's driven shot cannoned back off a defender.

Crawley should have gone further ahead five minutes later when a corner from the left was meet deep at the far post by Woozley, whose bullet header cannoned back off the
lower post. Hodgson then had an attempt for them just after, with a shot that was low and wide of the same side of goal.

Palace's next effort was wasted. Around the 75th minute just after he came on, young Finn Peltonen was pushed from behind, about 5 yards outside the area. Danze drove
the free kick high over goal.

There were a couple of half efforts at either end before finally substitute McSweeney headed over the bar for Crawley from a right sided cross.

Oddly enough, although Palace were well below par, there wasn't anything to seperate the sides stats wise, although Crawley's chances were on the whole more dangerous and
they looked the more likely side to score.

With only two games under the belt, the reserves now head to Tolworth for their last pre-season match next Tuesday evening, before beginning another season in the FA Premier
reserve league South.


Palace Team (4-4-2): Banks, Togwell, Granville, Danze, Wilson, Popovic (c), Black, R.Hall, Grabban, Berry, Simpson

Subs: Beckles (For Wilson '45), Wilkinson, Welch (For Popovic '55), Spence (For Danze '80), Starkey (For Granville '65), Peltonen (For Black '73)

Match Stats:

Palace Shots/Headers: 6 (3 on target)
Crawley Shots/Headers: 6 (3 on target)

Palace Corner Kicks: 2
Crawley Corner Kicks: 4

Palace Free Kicks: 8
Crawley Free Kicks: 8

Crawley Crosses: 9
Palace Crosses: 9 (5 from left, 4 from right)
(Simpson 3, Black 2, Spence 2, Berry 2)


Posted by alan