December 9 2006

Clinton Morrison

Palace lost 1-3 to Colchester after dominating the match for the first hour, reports Peter Gillman.

The Eagles spurned a succession of chances and then fell behind to a freak Colchester goal.

After Colchester went 2-0 ahead Palace clawed themselves back into the game with four minutes to go, but were finally sunk by a last-minute penalty.

Palace missed the inventiveness of Dougie Freedman, and were unlucky to lose on-loan keeper Iain Fraser to an injury in the first half

Palace were on top from the start, with Jobi McAnuff missing two good openings in the first 12 minutes. Colchester fell back on total defence and showed little imagination or initiative.

Shefti Kuqi had a big chance on 30 minutes when he collected a mishit clearance but failed in his effort to head the ball back over keeper Gerken’s head. On 37 minutes a Kuqi header sent Morrison clear, but Clinton blasted over the bar.

Moments before half time Kuqi seemed certain to score from a close-range header but a Colchester defender blocked the ball on the line.

Colchester showed a little more enterprise at the start of the second half but soon it was Palace pressing again. On 57 minutes Morrison smashed a shot from six yards but Gerkin finger-tipped it wide.

The turning point came on 62 minutes when Colchester’s Cureton lofted a speculative centre from the right. Scott Flinders, who had replaced Turner on 22 minutes, appeared to palm the ball on to the bar. It fell to Karl Duguid, who headed home from close range.

Palace pressed again but the match was effectively settled by a stunning strike on 69 minutes by Richard Garcia, who hit a swerving 25-yard shot past the helpless Flinders.

Palace were demoralised now, but did grab a goal on 86 minutes when Green hit a free-kick into the box. Hudson headed the ball back into the centre where Morrison nodded it home.

All thoughts of a Palace point were ended two minutes later, when Michael Hughes tripped Garcia in the box. Iwelumo sent Flinders the wrong way to clinch Colchester’s victory.

Palace: Turner (Flinders 22), Lawrence, Hudson, Ward, Granville, Soares, Watson (Green 72), Hughes, McAnuff, Morrison, Kuqi (Scowcroft 72).

Subs not used: Fletcher, Kennedy.

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