Crystal Palace - 2 (Freedman 80. Soares 110.)
Hartlepool United - 1 (Williams 70.)

The first attempt on goal in this match came as Joonas Kolkka fired the ball in, but Jim Provett was equal to the task, and he blocked the attempt. Shortly after Shaun Derry tried his luck, only to see his chance miss to the left of the upright. Wayne Routledge was then pulled up for a foul on Matty Robson, but then Chris Westwood returned the favour, fouling Darren Powell.

Our visitors won the first corner of the match, Gavin Strachan sending a good looking cross to the back post, but the ball went out of play for a goal kick. Our first corner came soon after, and it was Wayne who sent in the cross, though Westwood managed to get in the way, and he affected a good clearance of the ball.

Ben Watson took a free kick resulting from a foul by Robson on Wayne, and moments later he was taking a corner, which never found the attacking Palace players. Adam Boyd was caught offside before Sandor Torghelle managed to get a header on target, but not past the keeper, and the resulting corner was again wasted by Palace.

Dougie Freedman tried a shot that produced a reflexive save from the keeper, and minutes later Sandor tried a similar shot, from similar distance, with, unfortunately, a similar result. Ben sent in a corner that was cleared by the defence, and a series of ineffectual throw-ins followed as neither side seemed able to take charge. A corner to Hartlepool saw Strachan play the ball in too short before a number of fouls finally led to the first booking of the match, with Gonzalo Sorondo being booked for unsporting behaviour, which seems to cover a multitude of sins these days.

Little further action came our way, and before we knew it the whistle had gone to signify the end of round one, though we could hardly foresee just how long this match would last. One can only imagine that Iain Dowie would have been fuming at the lack of chances created, and the poor finishing shown, and he must surely have been urging them on to bigger and better things in the second half. Of course, things never pan out that easy for Palace.

The second half started much the same as the first, as Dougie tried a header that missed the upright, and sailed behind for a goal kick, and Antony Sweeney tried at the other end, resulting in a miss much in the same manner as the chance that fell to Dougie. A corner to Palace was cleared by Robson, and shortly after Pool made their first change of the match, taking off Joel Porter and bringing on Eifion Williams.

Ben sent in a good looking shot, which the keeper did well to hang on to, and another corner to Palace met the same fate, as Provett proved equal to the task once again. Joonas was caught offside, Mark Tinkler taking the free kick, before another corner to Palace was punched away to safety by the keeper, who was having a pretty good game, no matter which side of the fence you sat on.

Palace decided to make a change of their own, replacing Sandor with Ivan Kaviedes, and Sweeney made an attempt on goal that was well saved by Gabor Kiraly. Joonas hit a shot that sailed wide of the mark, and Dougie tried again, this time his shot flying over the top of the bar. Darren cleared a corner to Hartlepool before Strachan tried a shot that was blocked by Wayne, back assisting the defence once again.

New man Williams though got a chance from just six yards out, and he wasted no time converting the chance to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, and presumably something else for Iain and the rest of the management team to worry about. Michael Nelson saw his shot saved by Gabor and Martin Woods hit a shot over the top of the bar.

Palace made a second change, this time taking off Shaun and bringing on youngster Tom Soares, though another corner to Hartlepool and a shot from Ivan that was saved by the keeper kept us all on our toes for a while. We were not to be kept waiting much longer though. Tom sent in a shot that the keeper could only parry, and it fell to Dougie who slammed the ball home from the centre of the penalty area, to bring the game back on an even keel.

Dougie tried again, the keeper managing to hang on to this one, and then a couple of corners to Palace failed to find the mark, as Strachan gave way to Michael Maidens, and Ivan fired in a shot that just missed the upright, and flew through for yet another goal kick. Another corner to Palace saw Darren hit his header over the top of the bar, and despite three minutes of added on time, and a late substitution of Gonzalo for Gary Borrowdale, no further goals came, and we were in for another 30 minutes of action, where the Palace supporters certainly hoped the superior fitness of our players' might at last give us the break in the match.

As we got underway once again a corner to Palace was cleared by Boyd, whilst at the other end Ritchie Humphreys hit a shot that sailed past the outside of the upright, giving Gabor little to worry about. Ivan was caught offside, but at the 100-minute mark he got a shot on goal that was well kept out by Mark Tinkler. Another corner to Palace was fired goalwards by Wayne, but Sweeney was equal to the task, and our visitors decided to make their final change of the night with Steven Istead coming on to replace Woods, as the second half of extra time got underway.

Ivan tried another shot, which was well caught by the keeper and at the other end Williams hit a shot that sailed over the top of the bar. Another corner to Palace finally broke the deadlock, and it was pleasing to see Tom get on the end of Wayne's pinpoint cross into the centre, and his shot flew into the back of the net to make the scoreline read 2-1 to the Eagles.

Ben tried another shot that went over the top of the bar before Tinkler was booked for a foul on Ivan, the free kick being taken by Ivan, and the keeper just managing to tip the ball over the top of the bar. This resulted in a series of three corners to Palace, as Hartlepool tried everything to clear their lines, but finally a foul by Joonas on Boyd, and a booking for his trouble, saw the pressure relieved a little.

The game suddenly came to an end, and though it was a win to Palace, and a date for further progression in the Carling Cup, Iain will be telling the lads that they will really have to pick up their game if they want to take a point or three off Aston Villa come Saturday afternoon.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Gabor Kiraly, Danny Granville, Darren Powell, Gonzalo Sorondo (Gary Borrowdale 88), Emmerson Boyce, Wayne Routledge, Shaun Derry (Tom Soares 76), Ben Watson, Joonas Kolkka, Dougie Freedman, Sandor Torghelle (Ivan Kaviedes 62).

Substitutes not used: Julian Speroni, Sam Togwell.

Hartlepool United: Jim Provett, Matty Robson, Mark Tinkler, Michael Nelson, Chris Westwood, Ritchie Humphreys, Gavin Strachan (Michael Maidens 86), Antony Sweeney, Martin Woods (Steven Istead 105), Adam Boyd, Joel Porter (Eifion Williams 55).

Substitutes not used: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Darren Craddock.

Attendance: 4,233

Referee: Mr K Wright