Crystal Palace - 3 (Mullins 45. Morrison 46. 71.)
Ipswich Town - 2 (Johnson 9. Clapham 62.)

With Palace having only lost once at home, and Ipswich Town having won six of their last seven games could this be the clash of the titans? In reality, considering their relative League positions this should really have been considered a canter for the visitors. The pitch was given a lot of blame for the scoreline, but then in which season has the pitch not been maligned?

The match was only a few minutes old when it started to look as if Palace were determined to help Ipswich Town achieve their dream of an automatic promotion spot. Playing football that looked as if they were determined to get the ball up to the other end using the old up and under method, a long shot into the area looked as though it would be an easy task for Kevin Miller to take. Instead, a wicked bounce saw the ball go over his head, and David Johnson was on hand to head the ball into the back of an empty net. Two more chances to the visiting team were kept out more by good luck than good judgment, the only chance at the other end coming from a back pass to the keeper. It looked as though we were going to the break 1-0 down.

As the home supporters were bemoaning the lack of chances on goal by the players suddenly everything changed. Jamie Smith put in a great centre that found Hayden Mullins in a crowded penalty area. Somehow he managed to find enough room to place the ball in the back of the net past an unsighted Richard Wright. Though the dying seconds were ticking away it was from an identical move that we nearly took the lead, this time Clinton Morrison failing to control the ball which went over the top of the bar. Ipswich were starting to look panicky, and they were probably happier to hear the half time whistle than we were.

The second half brought more joy to the 16000+ supporters that had turned out for the match almost immediately, when Fan Zhiyi put in a full blooded shot that somehow the keeper managed to parry, but the ball fell for Morrison who made no mistake putting it into the back of the net. For the first time we were ahead in the match. A good move by Mullins nearly brought him his second, the keepers' legs getting in the way. Just when it started to look as though we may manage to hang on for a well deserved home win, suddenly the wheels fell off. Johnson this time turned provider when he sent in a good cross, and Jamie Clapham was on hand to force the ball home. A lot of end to end play then ensued, and suddenly both teams were playing for the win. Several attempts to force the winner were finally rewarded when Lee Bradbury forced a header downwards in the goal area and Morrison was once again on hand to hit the ball low into the net. Despite the fact that there was still nearly 20 minutes left in the match there seemed to be no more fight left in Ipswich. The game was over.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Kevin Miller, Jamie Smith, Gordan Petric, Sun Jihai (Dave Tuttle 68), Craig Moore, Andy Linighan, Steve Thomson, Fan Zhiyi, Lee Bradbury, Clinton Morrison (Leon McKenzie 88), Hayden Mullins.
Not Used: Steve Evans.

Ipswich Town: Richard Wright, Fabian Wilnis (James Scowcroft 56), Manuel Thetis, Jamie Clapham, Tony Mowbray, Mark Venus, Mick Stockwell, Matthew Holland, David Johnson, Richard Naylor (Bobby Petta 85) Jim Magilton.
Not Used: Adam Tanner.

Attendance: 16,360
Referee: Mr C.J. Foyle (St Helens).