Another home win for Palace's second eleven. Full match report

There was a marked difference in the sides as Palace met Coventry at Selhurst for a Reserve league South clash on a cold Tuesday night (15/2).

Palace came away with a clear 3-0 victory, but while they fielded a starting eleven full of experience (in which none of the clubs academy players featured), the away side, facing relegation from the Championship currently, chose to
play all youngsters.

Two players returning from injury featured for Palace - Anthony Danze was back in central midfield after an injury hit loan at MK Dons, and Joonas Kolkka played on the left. Wayne Andrews partnered Neil Shipperley up front, with Vas Lakis filing his spot in right midfield.

Although the chances were fairly even between the sides, Palace took their's much better, and the Sky Blues were all half efforts.

Palace stepped up to the plate in the first minute, when Danze (in the middle) played a pass to Andrews inside left of the penalty area. No defenders were facing the forward, and he struck his shot across the goal and past the right hand post.

Coventry replied in the 11th minute with a double effort. First young Reid curled a shot wide of the right post, then Danny Bunce forced Julian Speroni down low to make a comfortable save.

Andrews then had another go, and this time did far better in the 15th minute.

Receiving the ball outside the penalty area from just over 20 yards out, he let fly with a speculative shot that flew into the top corner of the net past the diving 'keeper to make it 1-0.

Three minutes after the re-start Ben Watson then had a chance, when he hooked the ball goalward after Lakis run down the right, and Shipperley's flick on inside the
box. The ball was claimed though.

Just after that Gary Borrowdale also went close. Finding himself unmarked and with time and space (on the left of the penalty area) he hit a low shot towards 'keeper
Jonathan Tuffey at the near post, which he blocked with his legs.

Coventry's next goal effort was the 24th minute, when their most lively looking player (midfielder Neil Wood) struck a free kick past the Palace wall. Speroni smothered and stopped the effort, and after being spilled it was put around for a corner.

Palace's next response was a minute after. Butterfield swung in a deep cross from the right and Shipperley outjumped the defender to put a header on target that was caught. Then two minutes later a foul on Wayne Andrews just outside the area, saw Ben Watson curl a free kick over the bar.

Then another good chance in the 28th. Danze lofted a ball down the middle for Lakis to chase and although in the clear, the 'keeper came out and made himself big, smothering
the ball just as the Palace player got a foot to it.

Palace then had two more chances as they continued to create, immediately before half time.

With three minutes to go - Watson chested down in the area from Danze's ball and shot, but again a save. Then just on the stroke of half time came Palace's second. Andrews had
the ball and squared it to Lakis, who took a couple of strides before firing a left foot strike into the top corner of the net (similar to the first goal).

Torghelle then replaced Shipperley during the interval, but Palace pushed on in the same manner and added a third goal just after half time.

With 52 minutes on the clock, Lakis was finding space on the right wing and got past his defender before striking a shot from an angle toward goal. Goalkeeper Tuffey made the
save, but could only push the ball out to the lurking Torghelle who reacted quicker than the nearest defender and prodded the ball into the net for 3-0.

With job done, Palace slightly relaxed, allowing Coventry to come forward a bit more - although the Eagles defence coped without too much problem.

Wood then had double attempts for them between the 50th and 60th minutes. First he put a free kick well over from outside the area, and then did well to meet a corner from
the left with a volley then struck the left post and rebounded away.

Osbourne then shot well over for the visitors in the 70th, just after a double Palace substitution, before Torghelle laid the ball forward to the left for the advancing
Ryan Hall. Taking several strides forward with the ball, the left winger blasted a shot a few yards wide of goal.

Palace could then have had a penalty in the 75th. Andrews cross from the right was blocked by Coventry sub Bains. In the ensuing goalmouth scramble, Bains fell on the ball
and scooped it up with his arms to shield it from Torghelle, but nothing was given.

The 79th/80th minute then had a effort at either end. Mackey shot over the bar from the left at the Palace end, before Andrews tried another long distance attempt with a 20
yarder that was parried away by the 'keeper.

Finally there were three chances in the last minute, leading into injury time. First up Mackey had two shots on goal. One that Speroni stopped easily and another that was wide.
Then in the last minute, Torghelle rose to meet Borrowdale's cross with a header, but again the attempt was easily stopped.

A clear cut win for Palace who didn't look in much danger of losing at any time during the game. Decent performances from Danze and Lakis, and much improved ones from Andrews
and Danny Butterfield as well.

Palace remain in second spot in the league, currently four points behind leaders Charlton and with a game in hand.

Palace Team: (4-4-2) Speroni, Butterfield, Borrowdale, Watson, Powell, Popovic, Lakis,Danze, Shipperley, Andrews, Kolkka

Subs: Torghelle (For Shipperley '46), Banks, Wilson, Berry (For Kolkka '66), R.Hall (For Danze '66)


Match Stats:
Palace Shots/Headers: 13 (10 on target)
Coventry Shots/Headers: 12 (5 on target)

Palace Corners: 3
Coventry Corners: 2

Palace Free Kicks: 8
Coventry Free Kicks: 11

Coventry Crosses: 11
Palace Crosses: 10 (7 from right / 3 from left)
(Butterfield 3, Andrews 3, Hall 2, Borrowdale 1, Watson 1)


Posted by alan