A deserved point for Palace, who've lost only once in the opening four matches.

With a run of only one defeat in three games, Palace's reserves have been on good form of late and with another strong line-up on display last Monday (13th) for the match
away at Spurs, will have been high on confidence.

Palace went into the match with the usual formation. Ben Watson continued in his new role of right back, and club debuts were given to goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly and defender
Gonzalo Sorondo, possibly with an eye to being involved with the first team this coming weekend.

Tottenham fielded eight players with first team experience (including Simon Davies and Rohan Ricketts, although no Michael Carrick due to injury), so weren't short of talent on the pitch themselves, and with so many players of note playing the result was a 1-1 draw, both sides worthy of their point.

It was captain Neil Shipperley who began with the first chance. Just past the quarter hour mark he turned in the penalty area and half volleyed wide of the post. Just over
five minutes later, Barnard slipped Ifil clear through the middle for Spurs, but his strike from well outside the box flew over the bar. Johnnie Jackson then tried his luck for them a few minutes later, but again from outside the area sliced his shot wide of the left hand post.

Palace seemed content to try and let Spurs break them down, but the Whites appeared to have left their shooting boots at home, and when Barnard held off Sorondo's challenge
just before the half hour he also shot wide of Kiraly's goal.

They did however find the target with one effort, when they took the lead right on the stroke of half time. Ricketts fed young striker Barnard with a through ball, and from
the edge of the area he teed himself up before firing a strike into the corner of the net across the dive of Kiraly. 1-0 to the home side.

Half time came, and Palace reacted by replacing Hughes and Ventola, suggesting that both players will be involved against Man City on Saturday. The replacements were Dougie Freedman and Tommy Black, who were rumoured to have been off on loan to Leeds. That move appears to have fallen through though, and the introduction of both players had the desired effect.

With five minutes gone of the second half, Shipperley rose to meet Shaun Derry's cross from the left, but his looping header from inside the box powered over the bar. A few minutes later Davies tried his luck for Spurs from the right, but Kiraly got down well and made a good low save. A few minutes thereafter the same player shot into the side netting.

Palace replied on the hour with a Shipperley/Black/Kaviedes move. Holding the ball up, Shipperley fed Black, who laid the ball off for Kavides. Bearing down on goal, his shot
took a deflection wide off the defence. It wasn't long before the scores were level though as Palace bagged the equaliser in the 65th minute.

Intercepting a Tottenham pass, Watson played a one/two through the middle with Derry. Picking up the ball as it ran loose, Kaviedes then flicked the ball to Freedman inside the area who allowed it to bounce before blasting a shot (similar to Spurs goal) across the 'keeper and into the corner of the net. All square.

Spurs responded quickly from the kick off by winning a corner, as Kiraly made a diving save from Jackson's powerful shot. Ziegler managed a header from the corner kick, but Kiraly was well placed again to claim the ball. The home side followed that up with two more long range speculative efforts, before both sides had an attempt each before the final whistle.

First Tommy Black placed a shot goalward that looked as if it was going into the bottom corner of the net until Stephen Kelly stuck out a foot and it rebounded wide. The corner came to nothing and the match finished with Jackson replying for Spurs with a crisp drive that was held firm by Kiraly.

So a point a piece, plenty of Spurs possession but Palace held firm and were worthy of their point. A good strong performance from Gabor Kiraly in goal, and Julian Speroni's
place in the first team must be under threat now.

Of the other players, Freedman was alert, Kaviedes showed promise again in short bursts, and Sorondo was quietly effective without being spectacular.

The win takes Palace up to third in the FA Premier reserve league South, level with Coventry and two points behind leaders Southampton.

A week's break for the second eleven now, as the planned Fulham match has been postponed due to the first team being in action in the league cup at Selhurst next week.

Palace Team (4-4-2): Kiraly, Watson, Borrowdale, Derry, Powell, Sorondo, Kaviedes, Hughes, Ventola, Shipperley (c), Soares.

Subs: Cronin, Togwell (For Watson '69), Freedman (For Ventola '46), Black (For Hughes '46), Wilson.


Posted by alan