Palace thrash Arsenal

September 2 2004

Crystal Palace ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over an Arsenal XI in a friendly at the Gunners' training ground.

Trialist Anthony Danze, Neil Shipperley, on his return from injury, and new signing Wayne Andrews got the Eagles' goals.

Twenty-year-old Australian Danze is just back from the Olympic Games where he represented his national side. Striker Nicola Ventola, signed on a season's loan from Inter on Tuesday, also featured.

Arsenal's side was mainly made up of youth players, but did include Dennis Bergkamp, Stuart Taylor and Lauren for the first half.

It was Danze who opened the scoring after only four minutes, firing in from the edge of the box after great work by Ben Watson.

Shipperley made it 2-0 to the Eagles on 31 minutes, rifling home a rising shot after a cross from Gary Borrowdale.

Keeper Lance Cronin made a few good saves for Palace before half-time. Arsenal came back into it after the break, but failed to find the net for their efforts.

Andrews finished the contest on 64 minutes with a brilliant strike. He steered an angled effort into the far corner having controlled a high, hanging cross from the opposite flank.

Arsenal were denied a consolation goal in the dying minutes, Cronin saving the ball well with his legs.

Palace Team: Cronin, Wilson, Togwell, Powell, Sealey, Borrowdale, Watson, Shipperley, Andrews, Danze, Berry, Soares, Vugdalic, Derry, Black, Pritchard, Ventola

Palace goals: Danze 4, Shipperley 31, Andrews 64