May 2 2003

Avon Insurance Combination League

The championship-winning reserves lost their final match of the season 3-0 away to Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Jim Barron took control of the side and they started brightly - Gareth Williams flashed the ball past the post and it was turned away for a corner by a defender.

Reading's Martin Butler fired wide before Tariq Nabil and DAVID HUNT tested the keeperwith strikes for the Eagles.

Five minutes before the interval Butler got on the end of a throughball and scored past the on-rushing Lance Cronin.

Then in first half stoppage time, Butler added a second goal from close-range after Palace defenders failed to clear their lines.

In the second half, Garry Borrowdale's fine run and shot was saved by the keeper but only as far as Nabil who fired his effort wide.

Williams then failed to round the keeper when through on goal after 52 minutes and from the resulting goal-kick fell to Darren Campbell on the right who crossed to Nathan Bailey in the box who made it 3-0.

Williams had a goal disallowed and the Royals' Ahmet Rifat volleyed wide from a corner.

Palace: Cronin, Heeroo, Borrowdale, Gibson, Antwi, Granville, Surey, HUNT, Williams, Nabil, R Smith.

Subs not used: Bashkal, Soares.

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