July 24 2003

Whyteleafe v Palace

Palace won their second pre-season friendly on Wednesday night, beating non-league outfit Whyteleafe, 6-1.

Palace played the first half with a strong team lineup, including former Wimbledon midfielder Michael Hughes, and soon-to-be-signed Neil Shipperley.

The match started at a brisk pace with Shaun Derry linking up well with Hughes in central midfield, and Tommy Black, Dougie Freedman and Shipperley in attack. Most of the first half chances fell to Freedman.

He had a shot brilliantly turned away by Danny Rose, Whyteleafe's testimonal keeper, and then headed over the bar from a Danny Butterfield cross from the right hand side.

Soon after, Freedman was on the score sheet after converting a pass from Shipperley.

Shipperley himself nearly made it two for the Eagles, but saw his header hit the post and fall into Rose's hands.

The second goal ended up falling to Black. Freedman crossed the ball in from the right wing, for Shipperley to head back into the 6 yard box, and Black was there to nod home.

Steve Kember made a number of changes to the lineup in the second half, bringing on Wayne Routledge, Ben Watson, Gareth Williams, Lance Cronin, and Andy Johnson.

Whyteleafe got themselves a goal back straight after the restart. Andre Robinson latched onto a long throughball and cooly slotted the ball past Cronin.

It didn't take Palace long though to restore the goal margin, after Andy Johnson was fouled in the box, picked himself up and converted the penalty.

After this point, Williams took centre stage, grabbing three well taken goals including one from a great cross by subsitute Gavin Heeroo.

Routledge was impressing the crowd with his usual array of tricks, making the midfield his own during the second half.

Overall, Palace did what was expected of them, and comfortably outplayed their opposition.

Team: Clarke, Butterfield, Borrowdale, Riihilahti, Symons, Popovic, Derry, Hughes, Freedman, Shipperley, Black.

Subs: Watson for Riihilahti, Cronin for Clarke, Routledge for Shipperley, Johnson for Freedman

Williams for Black, Surey for Hughes, Heeroo for Popovic, Riihilahti for Symons.