September 10 2002

Match-winner Andrew Johnson

Andy Johnson rescued Palace with an extra-time goal to give the Londoners a 2-1 victory over Plymouth in the first round of the Worthington Cup at Selhurst Park.

They made hard work of the Division Two side and were generally very poor with the exception of Wayne Routledge - making his first start - who was outstanding.

Darren Powell put Palace ahead in the 22nd minute. Danny Granville swung in in a free-kick on the right to Dele Adebola at the far post who headed back into the danger zone to Powell whose looping header beat the keeper and in off the post into the back of the net.

Blair Sturrock somehow missed an open goal for Plymouth. But they went into half-time in boyant mood after equalising in the 39th minute when Sturrock netted a right-sided Osvaldo Lopes cross from close range.

The visitors' Martin Phillips wasted a clear header as Palace bombarded the Plymouth goal with chances from substitute Tommy Black, Dougie Freedman, Granville and Johnson in the second half.

The game went to extra-time with Black having forced the keeper Romain Larrieu into two saves. Then Johnson popped up with seven minutes remaining to score from Granville's cross.

The draw for the second round of the cup takes place on Saturday.

Palace: Kolinko, Fleming, Austin, (Butterfield 46), Powell, Mullins, Granville, Thomson, Johnson, (Frampton 117), Freedman, Adebola (Black 69), Routledge.

Subs not used: Cronin, Rubins.