Palace Club XI carve out a draw from a bruising encounter with local Ryman's Leaguers

Continuing in the vein of last week's reserve friendly at Woking, Palace's second eleven again this evening (27/7) contained a mixture of youngsters and trialist's for the away pre-season friendly at Whyteleafe that finished all
square in a 2-2 draw.

In total their were six unfamiliar faces on show, including a new goalkeeper (Frenchman Anthony Basso) and Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Alonso (pictured), amongst some of the new faces that were given a run out at Woking. Striker Pascal Nouma from France was also on display, but was credited by Palace at the time as once of the youth team (in fact three of the players on display were given false names on the night).

Palace's mixture of players of course meant that watching manager Iain Dowie (on the touchline, and with brother Bob and assistant Kit Symons in the dugout) could get a good look at everyone, and he even bought Hungarian striker Sandor Torghelle along to watch as well, a sure indication that he has actually signed for the club.

The team line-up was a 4-4-2, with ex-Tottenham and Reading youngster Mario Noto starting on the left wing to accomodate Alonso who took up a position on the right. Whyteleafe battled hard, and were up for a game so in the end the score was a fair one. There were some bright moments for Palace, but not really too much cohesion as expected with the experimental line-up and no permanent forward line on display.

Palace took the lead as early as the 8th minute, when Onouchie fired in a low shot from the left side of the area into the corner of the net. Leafe's reply was near instantaneous though, as a centre from the right was met by a close range tap in as Wilson allowed the striker to elude him and make it 1-1.

Noto and Alsonso then both had shots blazed either over the bar or wide before Onouchie hesitated and wasted a golden chance from Dolan's floated ball into the box on 21
minutes. With the ball at his feet, yards out, and in space - the young striker allowed the 'keeper to recover his composure and eventually make an easy save.

Just before half time, Noto flighted an effort just wide of the post, and Palace then used the half time break to replace some of the trialists.

The result was a much more purposeful start, with Gary Prigent causing the defence problems on the left but Palace lacking in goal attempts.

Basso was called into action in the 69th minute to make a good low save when he parried away a shot to his right. Two minutes later another very good close range smother stopped a certain goal, and Dolan was then alive to hack the rebound away from the line.

The 76th saw Palace regain the lead through Prigent's persistance and shot on goal from inside the area, but again it was short lived as a Whyteleafe forward dribbled
past Alonso smashed a low shot into the far corner of the goal to leave the score at honours even at the final whistle.

Reasonable displays from both the French and Argentinian trailists at times. Both had their moments and suggested they are worth another look. Alonso was quick and creative at times on the right, but in other instances was caught napping and unaware whilst on the ball (Which to be fair can be expected if you've only just arrived and don't know your team mates or the language !)

In any case, it's likely that both players (and the previously mentioned Onouchie, Noto and Bradley Pritchard) will all appear again for the reserves next week.

Palace Team: (4-4-2) Basso, Wilson, Fray, Dolan, Togwell (c), El-Sahali, Alonso, Pritchard, Nouma, Onouchie, Noto

Subs: Conroy (For Pritchard), Wilkinson, Prigent (For Onouchie), Berry (For Nouma), Marshall (For Fray), Beckles (For Togwell)

Posted by neil