August 13 2008

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace reached the 2nd round of the Carling Cup but were made to work for a 2-1 win, writes Simon Pophale.

For 40 minutes, this was an encounter of high tedium. Hereford set their stall out to frustrate and to get any part of their bodies on the ball, to break up our attacks. It was rather effective too, but the sparse 3094 crowd (surely a record low for us in this competition in recent years?) were not treated to any exciting fare.

All of the action came in a 10 minute spell, punctuated by half time. Despite having no shots on goal for debutante keeper Darryl Flahavan to stop, Hereford sent their small band of supporters into a frenzy on 41 minutes, as Matthew Done skipped down the right and sent over a cross which Moses Ashikodi headed into the ground but the ball bounced over the dive of Flahavan, and into the net off the crossbar.

Calvin Andrews, whose constant running was causing Hereford's defenders problems, held up a long pass well and despite Kris Taylor nicking it away from him, the ball ran loose to Nick Carle and on the stroke of half time, his drive from 18 yards brought the scores level.

Bulls keeper Darren Randolph will feel he should have done better with it, but it was honours even at the break.

Our winner came 4 minutes into the second half and it was an absolute peach, despite it being slightly unintentional. Andrews held up another long ball and his pass back to Nick Carle was squared to debutante number 2 for the evening, John Oster.

From fully 30 yards out, he sent a dipping swerving cross which not only drifted over Randolphs’ head, but went in off the back post. Oster celebrated like a man almost embarrassed, but we were ahead and that was all that mattered.

Nick Carle had a couple of speculative efforts over the bar from long range, while Warnock introduced Kieran Djalali just before the hour and although he took time to get into the match, his lightning pace was an attacking threat, as Herefords’ defenders tired as the game wore on.

Despite Graham Turner throwing on 2 more forwards for the last 20 minutes, we managed to hold firm and only a late scare when Flahavan nearly dropped a cross at the feet of Clint Easton, but we held firm.

Plus points had to be the performance of John Oster, who barely put a foot wrong all night while Djalali looks like one for the future. Nick Carle got his first goal and set one up as well, while Calvin Andrews had a hand in both goals too. So, while the performance may not have been the most pleasing, there were a number of positives to take from the result.

Palace: Flahavan, Butterfield, Hill, Fonte, McCarthy, Ifill (Fletcher 45), Derry, Andrews, Carle, Moses (Djalali 57), Oster (Scannell 82).