October 16 2001

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace extended their fine run of victories to six in a row, beating Bradford by two goals to nil.

Striker Clinton Morrison fired his team to second place in Nationwide Division One with a brace, bringing his tally to 11 goals this season.

Palace started off the better of the two sides and the early possession was rewarded with a goal from Morrison in the 18th minute.

US international Jovan Kirovski fed Jamie Smith on the right and his cross was volleyed home by Morrison.

The home side kept attacking, but could not get the vital second goal leading into the half-time break.

In the second half, Bradford came out a different team and completely dominated proceedings. Luckily for Palace, keeper Matt Clarke was in outstanding form.

He pulled off an outstanding reaction save from David Wetherall's header from a corner and later on, blocked a Gareth Whalley effort on his line.

But the Eagles held firm at the back and dealt with the huge amount of pressure well, desperately hanging on to the slender one goal lead.

Morrison put the game beyond doubt and the majority of the 15,721 crowd breathed a huge sigh of relief with the second goal.

With the Palace players keeping possession to run down the clock in time added on, Aki Riihilahti fed a through ball to the Irishman.

He looked a few yards offside, but with only the keeper to beat, calmly fired home to make sure of the points.