Crystal Palace - 6 (Johnson 5. 9. 33. Hughes 45. Shipperley 55. Routledge 90.)
Stoke City - 3 (Eustace 6. Clarke 45. Asaba 83.)
Stoke got the game underway and it was ex-Palace player Ade Akinbiyi that got a cross in which was easily cleared by the home defence. Sebastian Svard got another cross in that was headed behind for a corner by Danny Butterfield, and Julian Gray cleared the chance for Stoke to open the scoring. A corner at the other end almost saw Aki Riihilahti get on the scoreboard, as his chance was cleared off the line by Clive Clarke, but only moments later Mark Hudson punted the ball forward, Andy Johnson slipped free of his marker, and he coolly chipped the ball into the back of the net.
Within a minute Stoke were back on level terms though, as a free kick was played short to John Eustace who fired the ball into the back of the net, giving Cedric Berthelin little chance of stopping it. As if that was not enough action almost immediately Palace were back up the other end, and as Paul Williams brought Julian down the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and AJ simply played the ball the opposite way to the keeper's dive to restore our lead.
Danny Granville sent in another corner to Palace, but Neil Shipperley sent his volley straight at Ed de Goey, and the keeper had little trouble hanging on to the ball. Tony Popovic was on hand to clear a dangerous cross from Svard before Michael Hughes was booked for a foul on Eustace. Eustace took the resulting free kick quickly, but Cedric was alert enough to gather the ball at the first attempt. Neil got a good cross in to AJ, who just failed to get on the end of the ball, and then he missed a sitter as Danny B sent in a cross, and his header went wide of the upright.
Eustace tried a shot that somehow went out, for a throw-in, meaning it was well wide of the mark, and as Neil missed a chance to increase the lead Williams once again brought down a Palace player; this time AJ; and another penalty was awarded. AJ converted again, and suddenly we were 3-1 up.
Stoke managed to clear the next free kick to Palace, which was sent in by Julian, and a corner shortly after saw Julian blast the ball way over the top of the bar. Danny B fired in a cross that Neil sent wide of the posts once again, but then a little pressure from Stoke resulted in Clarke firing in a long-range left foot shot that somehow eluded Cedric, and Stoke were back in the game.
One would be forgiven for thinking that this would surely mean the half time whistle, and any further action would have to wait until the second half, but straight from the kick-off Michael picked up the ball, ran at, and though the defence, and chipped the ball over de Goey to reinstate our 2 goal lead, the scoreline reading 4-2. Now the half time whistle did sound, and it was the Palace faithful that led the charge for the half time refreshments, as Stoke rued what might have been.
Palace got the second half underway, and Stoke made an immediate change to their line-up, with Kris Commons replacing Marcus Hall. A corner to Stoke, fired in by Commons, was easily cleared by Tony, who was doing a great job in defence, and as Akinbiyi fouled Aki the free kick came in from Danny B and Wayne Routledge fired a great shot that the keeper just managed to punch clear. AJ was on hand to follow up the chance, but the flag was up, and the chance was never going to count.
Akinbiyi somehow managed to get free, and with only the keeper to beat from 10 yards out he simply blasted the ball over the top, much to the jubilation of the Palace fans at the ground. Wayne managed to get free, but Clarke pulled him back, for his troubles earning a yellow card. The free kick was taken short by Danny B, Michael fired the cross in, and Neil made it 5 as he headed the ball sweetly home under little pressure from the Stoke defence. Surely by now the game must be safe, and the three points would have to be in the bag for Palace?
Julian nearly added to the score, but his shot was cleared, before Eustace was booked for a foul on AJ. Michael fired the free kick in, but the keeper made an easy save. At the other end Akinbiyi's cross was headed clear for a corner, and Cedric dealt convincingly with the cross as the ball came in from the corner flag. Danny B tried a shot that was cleared, eventually, by the defence, the corner this time coming in from Danny G, but it was once again cleared by the defence. AJ was caught offside, and Stoke took advantage of the lull in play to make another change, this time Eustace making way for Gifton Noel-Williams.
Wayne sent in a cross that Julian almost fired into the back of the net, and Palace cleared the next corner that fell to the visitors. Cedric held another corner, and yet another saw the ball go straight out of play, leaving the Palace defence little to do other than watch it fly by. Carl Asaba, who had been pretty quiet all afternoon, sent in a cross that went well wide of the attacking players, eluded the defence, and went behind for a goal kick.
AJ then fired a shot wide of the mark, and at the other end Commons was brought down by Mark (though some suggest it may have been Tony), and the ref once again pointed to the spot. Asaba stepped up, sent Cedric the wrong way, and suddenly a small crack appeared in the door for Stoke. Palace made two changes, Mikele Leigertwood and Shaun Derry coming on for Aki and Michael, and Julian tried a shot that was deflected behind once again.
The resulting corner was fired goalwards by Shaun, but de Goey managed to hang on to the ball, and Mikele was booked for a foul on Commons. The free kick was placed wide of the goalmouth, and Palace made a final change, AJ leaving to a great reception from the fans as Dougie Freedman came on to the field of play.
Commons tried a shot that went wide once more, and the fourth official signalled 2 minutes of added on time, which to the Palace faithful was just more time to cheer. Wayne received the ball on the right, and turning a full circle to elude the defence, he ran through and fired the ball home to finish the goal fest for Palace.
Not often does one see a 9-goal thriller at Selhurst Park, and one can be sure that Iain Dowie will have been well pleased with the result. He may take time later, though, to reflect on three goals conceded, and it would appear that a new goalkeeper might well be high on the "shopping list". As well as Cedric has done, it would appear that a change is in the wind, and we all await developments in this area.
Palace will now travel to Derby County full of confidence, so we can be pretty sure that the wheels are about due to fall off. In the meantime, we will just bask in the glory for a few more days, and look forward to the trip, whatever it may bring.
Colin Pryce
Crystal Palace: Cedric Berthelin, Danny Granville, Danny Butterfield, Tony Popovic, Mark Hudson, Wayne Routledge, Aki Riihilahti (Mikele Leigertwood 84), Michael Hughes (Shaun Derry 84), Julian Gray, Andrew Johnson (Dougie Freedman 88), Neil Shipperley.
Substitutes not used: Tommy Black, Gary Borrowdale.
Stoke City: Ed de Goey, Wayne Thomas, Paul Williams, John Halls, Marcus Hall (Kris Commons 46), Darel Russell, Sebastian Svard, John Eustace (Gifton Noel-Williams 63), Clive Clarke, Ade Akinbiyi, Carl Asaba.
Substitutes not used: Neil Cutler, Brian Wilson, Peter Hoekstra.
Attendance: 16,715
Referee: Mr R Styles