Palace continue their fine start to the reserve season by putting two goals past Chelsea's youngsters ...

In front of the TV cameras for a live transmission last night (probably for the first time ever), Palace recorded yet another reserve victory, to come away 2-0 winners against Chelsea at Aldershot's recreation ground.

The cameras of course were there for subscription satellite channel Chelsea TV, but may have afforded some Eagles fans with the novel experience of being able to watch the Palace second eleven live !

Palace fielded a side that was a mixture of both youth and experience, and included Shaun Derry, Ivan Kaviedes, Sandor Torghelle and returning from injury, Mikele Leigertwood for the first time this season. For Chelsea - it was all youngsters with the exception of goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley who had first team experience at Watford last season (co-incidentally letting 5 in when Palace played them at Vicarage Road !).

Two weeks ago using Scott Parker, Robert Huth and Glen Johnson Chelsea had beaten West Ham 5-1, but fielding their kids in every other fixture to date, had not won another game. Whilst they showed pace and enthusiasm they ultimately lost out to experience and a bit of calm, and after starting at a flying pace chasing the Palace players down, also ran out of steam to a certain extent.

Palace started by retaining possession and spreading the ball from right to left, but as noted Chelsea's young players seem keen to impress in front of the cameras and were quick to close down or seize on any early mistakes.

And there was one in only the first minute as Lance Cronin came out to the right hand side, outside of the penalty area - he was dispossessed by Oliveira who fortunately
could only lob the ball onto the roof of the net. Palace replied 10 minutes into the match as Ryan Hall fired a shot over the bar, after a Kaviedes/Torghelle link up move.

Cronin then made a low save on 14 minutes from Danny Hollands, who put a low shot on goal after recovering from Sam Togwell's tackle. Four minutes after that, Kaviedes
zipped a low corner across the face of the box that somehow managed to elude Derry and Torghelle, as well as all the Chelsea players defending their goal.

Then with 20 minutes on the clock, Cronin reacted slowly to Leigertwood's backpass and after trying to turn the advancing Chelsea player, saw his rebounded clearance come back off the forward, before the same player put it over the bar (luckily he was also offside).

Palace attacked again next in the 27th minute. Kaviedes got clear of his marker and sped towards goal. The restultant low shot appeared to be palmed behind by goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley but no corner was given. Last incident of the half saw another effort, as Derry's left sided cross was met by Torghelle, but blocked by the Chelsea defence.

Half time came without any substitutions, and then in the 48th minute just after the restart came a decisive moment. Torghelle on the left forced his way into the penalty box past young defender Pettigrew who then decided to upend the Palace forward with a boot to the stomach (giving away his second penalty in as many games). The referee didn't hesitate to give the decision, and Ivan Kaviedes stepped up with a penalty to the right, sending Pidgeley the wrong way.

There was then a sustained run of Palace pressure from a moment later, as Gary Borrowdale fired a shot over the bar. This was followed by three successive attempts on goal. First off, Torghelle's right sided cross was met by Kavides whose close range header deflected wide off of a Chelsea defender. Next was an accurate corner from the right that was greeted by a reflex bullet header from Sorondo. The goal bound effort was pushed around by the 'keeper and Ryan Hall then sent a 20-yarder skimming just past the Chelsea goalpost and the diving Pidgeley.

The last thirty minutes then played out with Chelsea substitutions and some sustained pressure from the home team, without any real end product. Palace made sure of the win right on 90 minutes though with a fine strike from Kaviedes, who was free down the right side to meet
a crossfield pass before blasting a shot into the left hand side of the net from 20 yards or so out to make it 2-0.

A solid performance from Palace, who weathered Chelsea's early pressure and running without too much incident apart from two rare mistakes from Lance Cronin. The West London youngsters soon ran out of both ideas and steam after starting at a break neck pace, and Palace continued their solid start by working hard and playing their own game.

Of the players, Leigertwood had a good return, looking calm and composed at the back and occasionally getting forward to support the attacking side of things. Sam Togwell also did well, as did Ivan Kaviedes who showed he still has the talent to make an impression on the first team.

Palace are up to second following this win, but could drop another place or two later this week once Arsenal, Coventry and other sides around them have played.

Palace Team: (4-4-2) Cronin, Togwell, Borrowdale, Derry (c), Leigertwood, Sorondo, Soares, Pritchard, Torghelle, Kaviedes, R.Hall

Subs: Simpson (For Leigertwood '62), Wilkinson, Marshall, Grabban, Hickey


Match Stats:
Palace Shots/Headers:7 (5 on target)
Chelsea Shots/Headers: 4 (1 on target)

Palace Corners: 4
Chelsea Corners: 1

Palace Free Kicks: 11
Chelsea Free Kicks: 11

Chelsea Crosses: 6
Palace Crosses: 4 (3 from right, 1 from left)
(Hall 1, Torghelle 1, Togwell 1, Kaviedes 1)


Posted by alan