Crystal Palace - 2 (Derry 38. Adebola 60.)
Grimsby Town - 0
Dele then fired a shot on goal, his attempt going well over the top of the crossbar, and AJ got a chance at goal, the keeper doing well to advance to a position where he was able to clear the danger before Andy could strike.
Stuart Campbell made a good move down the left for Grimsby, but Darren Powell was on hand to dispossess him, and a neat pass found AJ whose shot went just wide of the post. Steve struck a long-range shot that went just over the top followed by Julian Gray's cross that was just too wide for AJ, though a corner fell to Palace.
Steve Livingstone got a good cross in to Darren Mansaram, but his header went wide, and shortly after they won a corner. John Oster steered the ball into our area, though before anyone could strike Alex Kolinko held on to the ball, and set play off back in the direction that all Palace supporters wanted it, towards the other end. AJ managed to get on the end of a Danny Butterfield pass, but his header went straight into the waiting arms of the grateful keeper.
A corner to Grimsby seemed to take an age before it was cleared, Julian getting a touch on the ball, but for a moment or two there things seemed just a little worrying. Livingstone got a volley on goal that went wide of the post, and then Steve fired a long-range effort at goal that went just round the post at the other end. A free kick to Palace resulted in Darren firing a shot straight into the hands of the keeper before Shaun was booked for a poor tackle and Oster was booked, presumably for telling the referee how to do his job. The free kick to Palace, though, was moved forward 10 yards, and this spelt danger for Grimsby.
Hayden Mullins took the free kick, and as it came to Shaun he fired the ball goalwards. Just whether Coyne had it covered or not presumably depends on your point of view, but the ball took a huge deflection, and following that there was no way the keeper could get to the ball before it buried itself in the back of the net. Dele then fired a shot straight at the keeper, and at the other end Alex fumbled the ball for a moment, from an Alan Pouton shot, but fortunately he held on to it before Livingstone could follow up with a shot that would have tied the match.
AJ managed to steer the ball into the path of Julian, but his shot once again went over the bar, and without further ado the half time whistle sounded and the players made their way to their respective manager's pep talk. One would assume that Trevor Francis would be simply asking for more of the same, but Paul Groves would be asking for a renewed attempt on the Palace goal in the second half.
Palace kicked off in the second half, and the first significant piece of action saw Hayden try to head the ball into the back of the net, but the ball hit him in the face, and he was down for a few moments, seeking attention, which came fairly rapidly from the Palace support staff.
A free kick to Grimsby, taken by Oster, failed to worry Alex in our goal as it went well wide of the posts, then at the other end AJ just managed to run himself offside. Another free kick was awarded to Grimsby, though considering the proximity to our goal we can be very happy that it was not a penalty awarded, rather than the free kick. Pouton took the kick, Alex saved it, and the referee signalled that the kick was to be retaken. This time Pouton once again took the kick, but Alex could merely turn it round for a corner to our visitors.
Julian attempted to get the ball through to Dele, but the defence did well to cut the ball out, then it was Kit Symons who had to be alert to cut out a dangerous move spearheaded by Oster. Julian succeeded in getting the ball to Dele the next time, but his shot hit the bar, and sailed safely away for a goal kick. Our first replacement came with Aki Riihilahti replacing Tommy, and almost immediately Dele got the ball on the left, set himself up for the shot, and fired the ball past the despairing keeper to double our lead, and almost ensure that the afternoon would be ours.
Julian then fired a shot at goal that the keeper did very well to keep out, and a corner that followed for Palace very nearly ended up in the back of the net, courtesy of an Aki strike that went over the top. Dele put yet another shot over the crossbar, from a corner steered in by Danny, whilst at the other end Campbell hit a long range shot over the bar once more. Steve fired a shot over the top, as Groves brought himself on in place of Stacey Caldicott. A free kick, taken by Shaun, hit the bar, and play settled once more.
Gareth Williams then came on for his second appearance this season, and his home debut, AJ being the player replaced, and his first touch of the ball found Aki, his shot sailing over the top once again. Livingstone went off with David Soames taking his place, and as the clock made its' way to full time Gary Borrowdale came on for Julian. With three minutes added on Palace seemed content to just simply knock the ball around, and a final corner was wasted, which would have made the scoreline read 3-0.
We now await the visit of Reading for our postponed match on Tuesday night, and a repeat performance of today's score will more than suit everyone associated with the Palace cause. In fact, a win in that match could take us into the top ten, and only two points away from the play-off positions.
Colin Pryce
Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Hayden Mullins, Darren Powell, Kit Symons, Tommy Black (Aki Riihilahti 61), Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Julian Gray (Gary Borrowdale 90), Steve Thomson, Dele Adebola, Andrew Johnson (Gareth Williams 81).
Substitutes not used: Nikolaos Michopoulos, Will Antwi.
Grimsby Town: Danny Coyne, Simon Ford, Tony Gallimore, Jason Gavin, John McDermott (Wes Parker 64), Stuart Campbell, Stacey Caldicott (Paul Groves 70), John Oster, Alan Pouton, Steve Livingstone (David Soames 83), Darren Mansaram.
Substitutes not used: Shaun Allaway, Darren Barnard.
Attendance: 20,093
Referee: Mr T Parkes (Birmingham)