April 12 2008

Tom Soares

Crystal Palace kept their promotion chances alive with a 2-0 victory at home to Scunthorpe United.

Tom Soares notched his second goal in as many games and Clinton Morrison ended his recent drought to leave Palace sixth in the table.

Victor Moses and Soares had early shots on goal before Martin Paterson had an effort easily saved by Julian Speroni.

And in the 21st minute, the Eagles got their noses in front as Moses crossed for Soares to bury into the bottom corner for his fifth of the season.

Moses continued to threated the Iron goal, first with a long-range strike and then made goalkeeper Joe Murphy block another attempt from distance.

Scunthorpe could have grabbed an equaliser but Jonathan Forte nodded an Ian Morris centre over the crossbar.

Six minutes before half-time, the Eagles extended the lead after more good work from teenage star Moses.

His driving run down the left wing culminated with a perfect cross for Morrison to head into the roof of the net taking him to 15 goals for the season.

Moses was replaced by Sean Scannell in the 66th minute to keep him fresh for next week's match away to Watford.

On loan Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair had a shot go over, while Morrison put a volley high and into the stands not long afterwards.

Scannell blasted a 20 yarder off target but the two-goal win was enough to keep Palace in the play-off hunt.

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Hudson, Fonte, Hill, Soares, Derry (Fletcher 74), Watson, Sinclair, Moses (Scannell 66), Morrison (Robinson 83).

Not Used: Reid, Hills.

Scunthorpe: Murphy, Byrne, Iriekpen, Butler, Williams, Forte, McCann (Hayes 62), Goodwin, Morris, Paterson, Horsfield (Weston 71).

Not Used: Lillis, Hobbs, May.