February 28 2004

Cedric Berthelin

A CEDRIC BERTHELIN penalty save and Danny Butterfield wonder goal sealed a 1-0 victory over Gillingham at Selhurst Park.

Palace avenged defeat at Priestfield earlier in the season and notched up their sixth win in seven matches.

Top scorer Andrew Johnson forced a good save from Lars Hirschfeld after 13 minutes and two minutes later put a Butterfield cross just wide.

But shortly after, Gills replied with a good effort themselves as player-manager Andy Hessenthaler's header was saved by BERTHELIN.

Neil Shipperley saw his shot blocked by Gills defender Barry Ashby then Hirschfeld stopped a Julian Gray header.

Hirschfeld, currently on-loan from Tottenham, thwarted Johnson again before BERTHELIN made a fantastic save from Rod Wallace's 25-yard strike.

In the second half, Johnson went close again but the main talking point of the game was to follow in the 48th minute. Mark Hudson committed a professional foul on Mamady Sidibe in the penalty box and was shown the red card.

Southall's spot-kick was saved by BERTHELIN but the ref asked for it to be retaken. But Southall's second attempt crashed against the crossbar.

Five minutes later, Butterfield volleyed in from the edge of the box with what proved to be the winning goal.

Crystal Palace: BERTHELIN, Butterfield, Popovic, Hudson, Granville, Routledge, Hughes, Derry, Gray, Johnson, Shipperley.

Subs: Freedman, Black, Borrowdale, Leigertwood, Soares.

Gillingham: Gillingham: Hirschfeld, James, Ashby, Leon Johnson, Rose, Hessenthaler, Smith, Southall, Wallace, Sidibe, Agyemang.

Subs: Crofts, Jarvis, Spiller, Pouton, Beckwith.

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