May 7 2004

Tommy Black

Palace reserves ended their league season on a high with a 5-0 thrashing of the old enemy Brighton.

A young Brighton team found it difficult to stop an experienced Eagles outfit which fielded two trialists - former Portsmouth striker Deon Burton and ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Laurie Wilson.

Tommy Black gave Palace the perfect start, netting from close range a cross from the left after just two minutes.

Brighton hit the post on 18 minutes but five minutes later, Ben Watson doubled Palace's lead from Burton's pass.

Burton then had an effort cleared off the line and a strike crash against the crossbar before the half came to a close.

Black added his second of the night on 51 minutes, with a great run down the left and into the box where he fired home.

Burton then volleyed in Gary Borrowdale's cross on 80 minutes for the fourth goal before Borrowdale got in on the act in the last minute to score the fifth.

Palace: Berthelin, Fleming, Borrowdale, Watson, Symons, Powell, J Smith, Wilson (Dolan 74), Burton, Soares (Pritchard 46), Black (Prigent 65).

Subs not used: Wilson, Dolan, El-Sahali.

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