Crystal Palace - 5 (Kirovski 32. Popovic 39. 51. Freedman 65. Morrison 90.)
Grimsby Town - 0

Before this match Grimsby were riding high in the table, and Palace were languishing in 15th place, but the rate that we started this match you would have thought the positions were the other way round. Julian Gray was looking menacing down the left side of the pitch, Danny Coyne had to race out to dispossess Clinton Morrison when he was clear on goal, and Simon Rodger managed to blast the ball over the top; and all this in the first five minutes or so. Simon then missed a sitter, with an open goal beckoning him, and it started to look as if we were going to have another of those nights where nothing seems to go right.

The first attacking move for our visitors came from a free kick, but Tony Popovic easily cleared the ball before a second chance to Grimsby hit the crossbar, with Matt Clarke beaten in goal. At the other end Clinton sent in a rasping shot that the keeper did well to deflect for a corner, from which Dougie only managed to head the ball over the top. Aki Riihilahti then managed to set Jamie Smith free down the right, and his cross beat the defence, and our attackers, but Jovan Kirovski was on hand to simply tap the ball into the back of the net and open our account. Needless to say, this was quite a change for the Palace supporters; we have inevitably been behind on the scoreboard, even in the games that we have managed to win!

A free kick to the visitors once again led to a packed goalmouth before Matt safely held on to the ball. This was followed almost immediately by a header from Simon that once again hit the bar, but this time Tony was in position to force the ball home and double our lead. Jovan then sent the ball just wide of the post before Menno Willems did the same at the other end. With little action after this we went to the break holding a well-deserved 2-0 lead, and given any luck the scoreline could have been even greater.

Grimsby made two substitutions from the first half side, but failed to look any more potent in attack. Despite a free kick to the visitors the first shot on goal once again fell to Palace, with Simon taking a long-range pot shot at goal that went wide. A good move once again by Jamie saw a cross come in that was deflected for a corner by one of the defenders when it looked as though Dougie might have scored. The corner was taken, as usual, by Simon, but this time Tony managed to get just in front of Dougie, and the ball was headed past the keeper to make the boards read Palace 3 Grimsby 0, and surely now there was no way back for the visitors.

We now had two new scorers on the list for the season, and between them they had scored three very impressive goals.

Jovan almost made it four shortly after, but somehow the ball evaded his outstretched toe before Aki almost set up Clinton. Julian then sent in a cross that went behind for a corner, and Palace took the opportunity to substitute Steve Thomson for Simon. His first touch of the ball released Clinton down the left, and before the defence could blink Dougie stole in to make it four.

Almost immediately after scoring he found himself replaced on the field by Tommy Black, but one can be fairly sure he would far have preferred to have been still on the field of play with a chance to score further goals. Clinton came close once again before Willems sent in a good chance that Matt did well to hold on to.

The shots were still peppering in, and it really started to look as though the whole Palace team were lining up to take a shot at the opposition goal. Julian was but one who chanced his arm, but as the final minutes were starting to count down we made our final substitution, bringing on Andrejs Rubins for Jovan.

A cross from Clinton just missed Tommy in the centre, followed by a couple of corners that we failed to latch on to properly. A shot from Tony was well held by the keeper, before a final chance fell to Clinton. He managed to get two attempts at the shot thanks to a chip in by Andrejs, and he scored second time around.

So, for the second time in the last five years we have soundly beaten Grimsby, with a scoreline of 5-0 on both occasions. In 96/97 the five goals were scored in the first half, but this time the goals were shared around the match, and around the players. Obviously this time round Steve Bruce managed to keep the players focused on the job in hand, and they did not let the tempo slacken once half time had passed.

A good all round performance by the side then, and we will all be looking forward to a similar performance in the home match against Barnsley on Saturday. Let's hope Palace can manage to hit them whilst they are down in the League for once, as Barnsley generally tend to be one of those teams that are at, or about, the top of the League come the business end of the season.

Good luck Eagles.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Matt Clarke, Tony Popovic, Dean Austin, Hayden Mullins, Jamie Smith, Aki Riihilahti, Simon Rodger (Steve Thomson 60), Julian Gray, Jovan Kirovski (Andrejs Rubins 81), Clinton Morrison, Dougie Freedman (Tommy Black 67).

Substitutes not used: Alex Kolinko, Craig Harrison.

Grimsby Town: Danny Coyne, John McDermott, Paul Groves, Marlon Broomes, David Smith, Alan Pouton (Wayne Burnett 45), Danny Butterfield, Menno Willems, Stuart Campbell, Michael Jeffrey, Jonathan Rowan (Bradley Allen 45).

Substitutes not used: Steve Croudson, David Beharall, Michael Boulding.

Attendance: 18,149

Referee: Mr P Prosser (Innsworth)