Ipswich Town - 1 (Ambrose 38.)
Crystal Palace - 2 (Johnson 19. Butterfield 77.)

Following on from two good wins, this match was important to Palace, as it gave an opportunity for the team to enter the top half of the table, albeit by the skin of their teeth. To Ipswich Town the match was just as important, as they are starting to slip into the lower echelons of the League, an unenviable position for a team relegated from the Premiership only last season.

The first action was a foul by Chris Makin followed by a foul at the other end by Dele Adebola; neither of the ensuing free kicks coming to anything. Shaun Derry had to be alert to cut out a cross that looked dangerous, Jamie Clapham being the man responsible for the searching ball heading our way. A corner to Ipswich failed to threaten our goal, and within moments the ball was at the other end where a good cross into the centre from Danny Butterfield found Aki Riihilahti, his header being well saved by Andy Marshall in the home goalmouth. The next attack by Palace was well cut out by the home defence.

A cross into our area by Clapham saw Tony once again avert the danger, but the ball fell for Makin who fired in another cross, this time the situation being well cut-out by Darren Powell. Our old friend, and ex-Palace player Hermann Hreidarsson foiled a forward move by Dele, but Palace won a corner. Danny Granville fired the corner in, but the keeper simply plucked the ball out of the air, and once again the danger had passed. Hreidarsson then cleared another ball fired into the area by Danny G, and in moments he was up the other end steering the ball into our area, Hayden Mullins this time coming to our rescue.

Alex Kolinko did well to pull off a save from a Matthew Holland strike, from just a few yards out, and Dele returned the compliment at the other end, his shot being blocked by Wayne Brown. Dele then made a good run towards the penalty area, before firing a pass straight into the path of Andy Johnson who made no mistake burying the ball in the back of the net. His seventh goal in three games, could he notch yet another hat trick?

Alex held on to another header from just a few yards out when Alun Armstrong got on the end of a Matthew Holland cross, and as the ball made its' way up the other end of the pitch AJ managed to get caught offside. Hreidarsson then snapped a shot from distance at goal, but his aim was not the best, the shot going past the post without worrying the keeper. Tony cleared another in-bound shot from Clapham, and Danny G sent in a cross that was a little too deep, the keeper getting to the ball before our attacking force could make the distance. Darren Ambrose managed to put a shot wide once again, from just a few yards out, and though only half an hour had elapsed Armstrong was unable to continue, his place being taken by Jermaine Wright.

Darren Bent sent a half chance wide of the post, whilst at the other end Dougie Freedman was pinged for handling the ball. Clapham then fired the ball into the centre, and a glancing header further into the goalmouth found young Darren Ambrose in place to simply head the ball low into the goal, the scores now being level once again. Dougie attempted a reply almost immediately, his header going just over the top of the bar.

Thomas Gaardsoe was on hand to cut out a cross that was sent in by AJ, but the next cross in, this time by Dele, found Dougie whose shot went wide of the post. A last gasp attempt on goal by our hosts nearly saw Ipswich score as both Danny G and Tony had to call on all their defending ability to keep Ambrose away from his second strike of the afternoon.

Without further ado the half came to a close, and Palace would, most likely, have felt a little aggrieved that they had only managed to go into the break on level terms.

Palace made an immediate substitution at the start of the second half, Julian Gray replacing Danny G, who seemed to be carrying a slight knock. Julian made an impact straight away; his cross finding Dougie who forced a good save from Marshall, conceding the corner in the process. Needless to say the corner was wasted, and the game settled into a somewhat niggling affair, a series of free kicks going either away.

A shot that seemed destined to nestle in the back of the goal was well dealt with by Darren, denying Ambrose at the last moment before Clapham fired the next shot in, Alex saving quite easily. A foul on Dougie by Chris Makin saw the Ipswich player going into the book following the customary issue of a yellow card, and the resulting free kick almost brought a goal from Tony, his header being well saved by the keeper.

A corner to Palace was fired in by Danny, but Jim Magilton was on hand to clear the danger, and then Danny managed to get himself booked for time wasting, though he was still allowed to take the throw-in that he wasted time over, after a far longer delay as Palace made their second substitution. Tommy Black took to the field, Dele making way for him as we looked for a bit of a change at the front.

A series of plays all around the centre of the park seemed to be leading nowhere before Hreidarsson put in a good shot from long distance, Darren managing to get in the way of the goalward bound ball. Tommy then got in a shot that was blocked by Clapham, but the next cross did see us once again take the lead. Somehow it was Danny who got clear on the edge of the area, and he fired the ball high into the back of the net, the scoreline now reading 2-1.

Palace immediately made a substitution. With an eye on defending the situation they sent Kit Symons on for Aki, and the Palace fans were pleased to finally see him back on the pitch. Within moments Ipswich made their second change with Finidi George taking the place of Makin. Darren blocked a shot from Holland, though the rebound fell to Wright who fired the ball wide of the post.

Dougie could have finished the game off with a few minutes to go, but the keeper tipped his shot over the bar. The resulting corner saw AJ attempt a header, but Clapham got the ball clear of the danger area.

Ipswich piled the pressure on in the dying moments of the match, their best chances coming from defender Hreidarsson, but his efforts failed to find the mark, and Palace were on their way home celebrating their third win in a row. A cup match beckons against Coventry City before we take on Nottingham Forest in our quest to continue this winning run.

Colin Pryce

Ipswich Town: Andy Marshall, Wayne Brown, Thomas Gaardsoe, Hermann Hreidarsson, Chris Makin (Finidi George 79), Darren Ambrose, Jamie Clapham, Matthew Holland, Jim Magilton, Alun Armstrong (Jermaine Wright 31), Darren Bent.

Substitutes not used: James Pullen, Mark Venus, Fabian Wilnis.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Danny Butterfield, Danny Granville (Julian Gray 45), Tony Popovic, Darren Powell, Shaun Derry, Hayden Mullins, Aki Riihilahti (Kit Symons 77), Dele Adebola (Tommy Black 66), Dougie Freedman, Andrew Johnson.

Substitutes not used: Nikolaos Michopoulos, Will Antwi.

Attendance: 24,941

Referee: Mr C Webster (Tyne & Wear)