November 21 2002

Ben Watson

The Palace second-string drew 1-1 against Colchester United, at Beckenham, but still remain top of the league.

Gareth Williams nearly put the hosts in front but his shot came off the woodwork on 35 minutes.

Straight from the clearance, Colchester broke away and Lance Cronin had to be alert to save a shot from Antangana.

Two minutes before the break, Ben Watson forced the U's keeper into a good save and from the resulting corner, Danny Granville had a shot saved.

Watson put Palace in front on 62 minutes when he beat two defenders and fired home past the keeper, who slightly fumbled it into the back of the net.

But within a minute, Colchester had equalised. Straight from the kick-off, Dean Morgan picked up the ball at the edge of the box and drilled home an equaliser.

The visitors had two more chances to take the lead. First, a header then shot wide. For Palace, Williams had to efforts wide of the target.

The Eagles remain unbeaten and top of the Avon Insurance Combination.

Palace: Cronin, Heeroo, Borrowdale, Antwi, Hunt, Granville, R.Smith, Riihilahti (Soares 70), Williams, Bashkal (Nabil 70), Watson.

Subs not used: Gibson, Wilson.