November 18 2004

Darren Powell

High-flying Crystal Palace reserves were held to a 1-1 bore draw at home to Watford in the FA Premier Reserve League.

Palace dominated the first half and should have gone in at the break at least a goal to the good. Neil Shipperley fired wide, Wayne Andrews went close with a good strike and Anthony Danze was unlucky not to score with a volley.

Tommy Black forced a good save from Alec Chamberlain, but Tom Soares got closest to breaking the deadlock with a close-range shot that crashed against the cross bar after Andrews had nodded down Shaun Derry's free-kick.

However, Watford scored in the 38th minute with their only shot of the half. Mark Hudson failed to deal with Andy Ferrell who pounced on a throw into the box and he rifled past Julian Speroni.

The Eagles got a deserved leveller in the 56th minute. Andrews' centre from the right eluded Soares and Darren Powell stuck his leg out to score and the ball hit his thigh and looped into the back of the net.

Palace: Speroni, Fray, Borrowdale, Derry, Hudson, Powell, Danze, Soares, Shipperley, Andrews, Black (Berry 63).

Subs not used: Cronin, Wilson, El-Sahali, Smith.

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