Scorers:
CP: Zaha, Goldsmith
DC: -

First half goals from Wilfred Zaha and Joe Goldsmith disposed of a strapping Derby County Youth side and eased Palace into the last 16.

Derby controlled the early stages of the first half, but seemed to over-rely on getting the ball up to dangerman Ryan Connolly, who saw a curling effort rasp the cross bar early on.

As the game wore on Palace grew in confidence and openied the scoring through Wilfred Zaha, latched on to a through ball to fire home from just inside the box. He'd been unlucky to be flagged offside after he slipped through the defence midway through the half, only to be flagged offside. He latched on to a through ball to fire home from just inside the box.

Derby almost equalised immediately when forward Callum Ball had the ball in the back of the net after 'keeper Charlie Mann could only [parry a fierce shot, but hisb strike also fell victim to the linesman flag.

With the Rams committed forward, Palace took advantage at the end of the half in the half with a brilliantly worked move. Ibra Sekajja found sapce on the right and crossed low to Jack Randall, on the edge of the box, who dummied it for Joe Goldsmith to stroke it home.

Derby neraly reduiced the arrears immediately when Yohann Le Sant's shot was well blocked by Mann and then Ball, from the rebound, saw Alex Wynter clear his effort from the goal line.

Derby tried to exert themselves physically on the game, early in the second half but Palace held firm and Goldsmith, Zaha and Randall all had good chances to increase the lead.

With Derby reduced to taking long potshots, the victory was secure.

Palace: Mannn, Kenlock, Parsons, Wynter, Nnamani, Holland, Williams (Caprice), Goldsmith, Zaha, Sekajja (Williamson-Murrell), Randall

Subs not used: Fitzsimmons; Knight, Field

Derby: Severn, Garton, Jones, Le Sant, Keane, Abalimba, (Cole), Dillon(Witham), Hendrick, Ball, Kelly (Wright) Connolly

Subs not used: Betts, Whight, McElory
Posted by neil.