August 17 2006

Jon Macken

Palace reserves started their season in style, beating Aldershot 4-1 at Bromley.

The Eagles fielded a strong line-up for their first game of the Pontins Holiday Combination League.

Boss Kit Symons opted for Scott Flinders in goal, Darren Ward and Garry Borrowdale in defence, and Charlie Sheringham partnering Ipswich target Jon Macken in attack.

One other noticeable inclusion was trialist from MK Dons Jamie England featuring in his second game for the reserves.

Aldershot put out a team which featured Tom Soares' brother Louie up front.

Palace raced out of the blocks from the kick-off and were 2-0 up within 10 minutes. Tommy Black struck a fierce shot from just inside the box to make it 1-0 before Kirk Hudson scored an own goal to double Palace's lead.

The score was 2-0 at half-time, but it wasn't long after the break when Palace scored their third through Macken.

Aldershot clawed the score back to 3-1 through David Winfield but Palace continued to pile on the pressure, and Macken got his second of the night to make it 4-1.

Overall a very comfortable performance for the Eagles, where they were barely troubled throughout.

The reserves' next match is against Brighton on August 30.

Palace: Flinders, Starkey, Borrowdale, Ward, Swaibu, England (Hall 45), Black, Spence, Sheringham (Kujodji 80), Macken, Reich.

Subs not used: Wilkinson, Straker.

Goals: Black, own goal, Macken (2).