January 22 2002

Dulwich - Champion Hill Stadium

The Palace youth team was cruelly knocked out of the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup in the last minute, losing 2-1 at home to Hartlepool.

Played at Dulwich Hamlet's Champion Hill Stadium, the game looked set for a extra-time as it approached the 90th minute at 1-1.

But Pool's Colin McKenzie struck a sweet curling shot past the helpless Lance Cronin in the Palace goal to seal the tie.

Palace took the lead in the 28th minute when Ben Watson's low shot from the edge of the box beat keeper Kevin Duncan.

Apart from the goal, there was little action of any note in the first half and the game sparked into life in the second. Wayne Routledge had a shot inches wide of the post and Watson saw a header go over the bar.

Steve Warren then saw his freekick pushed round the post by the Pool's Duncan and down the other Hartlepool were turned down a penalty by the referee.

Routledge was put through by Heeroo and the England youth international's lob went just wide. Moments later, Hartlepool equalised through Antony Sweeney.

Both sides then had chances to score with Adolf Amoako going close for the Eagles and the game loked like it was heading for extra-time, until McKenzie scored in the 90th minute with an unstppable shot.

The visitors will now meet either Manchester United or Birmingham City in the fifth round.

Palace: Cronin, Togwell, Julius, Borrowdale, Shannon, Dobson, Watson, Warren, Heeroo, Routledge, Amoako.

Subs: Hay on for Heeroo. Not used: Bashkal, Gibson, Nabil, Neal.

Booked: Warren, Heeroo.