A return to winning in the FA Premier league South

On a cold night at Selhurst Park, and the final reserve league match before a month's switch to Bromley's Hayes Lane venue, Palace's second eleven recorded a welcome 2-1 victory last night (22/11) against a young Norwich City line-up at Selhurst Park.

In the Palace side were two trialists from non-league level, plus Charlie Sherringham (son of Teddy) who made a 2nd half appearance a substitute up front. Young Sherringham
has already appeared once for Palace's under-18's and also as a sub in the Arsenal reserve match last week, whilst another of them - Michael Kamara in central defence,
has also done the same.

The third player (in central midfield) was Osman Sessay, who has been interesting Reading.

With Palace fielding a strong side, including Danny Granville still on the comeback trail and Mark Hudson as Captain, the returning Jon Macken lined up as a forward
alongside Wayne Andrews, with Grabban dropping to right midfield and Reich on the left.

After a slow opening, Palace presented the games first chance when in the 10th minute Reich responded to Andrews cross from the right with a header that was tipped over the bar.

From the corner, Danny Granville followed up with a shot just over.

Norwich responded 2 minutes later, as Ryan Jarvis almost caught Speroni by surprise as he snapped off a shot from outside the area. Hit at a rising pace, the Palace 'keeper
pushed the ball upwards and over.

Then in the 18th, Granville curled a free kick around the wall from outside the penalty area, although Norwich goalie Lewis scooped up the ball at the far post safely.

There was then a lull in play until the 38th, when Jon Macken shot at the 'keeper from inside the area. Just before half time, Reich's last act of play before being replaced was to fire a free kick inside the area on the right, also just over the bar.

Half time saw Rhoys Wiggins enter play on the left of midfield as a direct replacement for Reich, but the opening salvo of the second half was fired Norwich when Rossi Jarvis
(brother of the player mentioned earlier) put a strike wide of the Palace goal.

Palace then took the lead around the 51st minute thanks to the first of two headed strikes from Mark Hudson. A back header from a Norwich defender whilst Palace were on the attack, caught their 'keeper flat footed and un-balanced. Arching backwards he managed to pull off a good save and push the ball away where Grabban hooked it back on the volley from the byeline, to the waiting Hudson who powered home a firmly taken header from 6-7 yards to make it 1-0.

Only minutes later, the same player made it 2-0 with another header. Sneaking in behind the defence on the right after Granville's quickly taken free kick flick, he nodded home from yards out with an angled header.

Charlie Sherringham then replaced Macken shortly thereafter, and whilst he wasn't bought too much into the game, he showed a good first touch and held the ball up well when involved in play.

Grabban then went close just after the hour, as he tried to hook Wiggins flick on over the 'keeper as he raced into the area. The same player then struck a low and firm drive
from outside the area toward the 'keeper, before Andrews then cut in from the left and also fired a shot straight at the goalie.

Norwich claimed an equaliser with almost 10 minutes left, after Fray's nudge had resulted in a free kick being won by Ryan Jarvis from just outside the box. The same player took
the kick, which cannoned up off the wall and toward the right of goal. Despite going the other way, Speroni got a hand to it as he twisted and was unlucky in not being able to stop the goal.

In the dying minutes Hudson could have had a hat trick as he nodded Granville's free kick from the left just wide of the post, but 2-1 it was, and with reasonably solid display's from all three trialists who are no doubt sure to figure again next week away at Watford.


Palace Team: (4-4-2) Speroni, Fray, Granville, Starkey, Hudson (c), Kamara, Andrews, Sessay, Grabban, Macken, Reich

Subs: Straker (For Sessay '77), Wilkinson, Wiggins (For Reich '46), Sherringham (For Macken '63), Watanabe

Match Stats:

Palace Shots/Headers: 13 (8 on target)
Norwich Shots/Headers: 5 (3 on target)

Palace Free Kicks: 16
Norwich Free Kicks: 14

Palace Corners: 2
Norwich Corners: 1

Norwich Crosses: 3
Palace Crosses: 5 (3 from right / 2 from left)
(Andrews 2, Reich 1, Wiggins 1, Fray 1


Posted by alan