Crystal Palace - 1 (Butterfield 53.)
Gillingham - 0

Crystal Palace played host for this game against Gillingham, who were struggling at the wrong end of the table. Palace, of course, was looking to push their way up the table into one of those coveted playoff positions, and considering recent results between these teams almost anything was likely to happen.

Palace got the game underway, and the first move on goal came, inevitably, from Andy Johnson, resulting in Barry Ashby kicking the ball into the stands for the first throw-in of the match. Michael Hughes sent in a cross that was deflected behind for a corner, which was sent in by Shaun Derry, but Neil Shipperley fouled the keeper. A free kick went to our visitors as AJ handled the ball, but shortly after Michael sent a shot from distance over the top of the bar.

AJ played Neil in, but the keeper was equal to the task, and following a foul on Shaun by Andy Hessenthaler it was Tony Popovic who fouled Rod Wallace, the resulting free kick being well held by Cedric Berthelin in the Palace goal. Gillingham won a corner that Julian Gray finally got clear, and then AJ and Neil combined well, causing the keeper a lot of trouble before he finally managed to snatch the ball to safety. Neil then got the ball from Danny Granville and played AJ in, his shot going just wide of the post.

Danny Butterfield did well to stop Wallace as he advanced on goal, but then Richard Rose played Hessenthaler in and Cedric was lucky to get a touch, and to have Tony there to shepherd the ball back to him when a goal could easily have been the result. AJ then put another shot over the top.

Julian robbed Kevin James of the ball before Patrick Agyemang was caught offside, the free kick doing nothing of interest. Nicky Southall sent the ball in too deep for Agyemang to get on the end of, and Cedric tidied things up quite easily, and at the other end Neil turned and shot at goal, his attempt being denied by Southall, who seemed to be at all ends of the pitch. Danny B fired the ball in only to see Julian have his header just tipped clear by the keeper, and as Julian fired in another attempt the chance was again parried, and Shaun really should have scored, his shot going high and wide of the mark.

AJ headed the ball goalwards as Lars Hirschfeld again tipped the ball over the top, but the Gills managed to get the ball clear as it came back into their area. Danny G went down in the area, but the claims for a penalty were met by deaf ears from the referee, and play went on.

Wallace tried a shot that Cedric claimed, whilst at the other end Tony played an easy shot at the keeper, which gave him no problems at all. Mark Hudson cut out the next move forwards by the Gills, and a couple of corners followed that the visitors were unable to take advantage of. One minute of time was added at the end of the first half, and with further little action the half time whistle sounded, and the score was still locked at the point which the game started; 0-0.

Gillingham got the second half started and Palace won the first corner, courtesy of Julian, but it was again Southall who got the dangerous ball back out to safety. AJ then made a twisting turn in the box, but his shot gathered no pace, and the keeper held on to it well. Suddenly though disaster struck, as Mark was shown a red card for a professional foul on Mamady Sidebe, and much as the Palace faithful will contest the decision it was not going to change the fact that a penalty was awarded, and we were down to 10 men.

Southall stepped up to take the kick, Cedric moved the right way, and he parried the ball on to the post and away to safety, and the Palace crowd let out a collective sigh of relief. Before we could regather our thoughts though the referee was pointing back to the spot, demanding it be taken again, as he ruled that Cedric had moved before the ball was played. Southall stepped up again, and hit the ball straight on to the bar, and it happily fell away to safety.

Palace decided a change of personnel was needed following the sending off, and Mikele Leigertwood came on to replace Wayne Routledge, who had been fairly quiet all game. But it was defensive minded players we now needed, so I guess Wayne was the "sacrificial lamb". Immediately following these events the ball fell kindly to Danny B on the edge of the area, and he blasted the ball goalwards, and it dropped neatly into the back of the net. 1-0 up, but still about 40 minutes left to play. Kevin James then tried a shot, but the chance was blocked by the Palace defence, and shortly after AJ was brought down on the edge of the area, earning Ashby a yellow card.

Danny G put the free kick over the wall, but also over the bar, and this was followed by Michael running at the defence, and the keeper nearly scoring an own goal as the ball bounced off him and almost into the net. Sidibe was booked for dissent, and as the ball flew into the area Tony flicked the ball on, Neil got a touch to it, and Julian was robbed of the perfect opportunity to double the lead. Neil, of course, could not have known how well placed Julian was, and these things happen as teams attempt to strike on goal.

Mikele made a good clearance as the Gillingham frontmen ran at him, and shortly after Julian found Neil with the ball, his shot going, unfortunately, straight at the keeper. Gillingham made a double change, replacing Southall and Wallace with Danny Spiller and Andy Pouton, and then a free kick to the visitors saw James fire a shot straight at Cedric, which he had no trouble hanging on to. Another shot, this time by Pouton, met with the same fate, and then Pouton received a yellow card, for a foul on AJ.

AJ almost got another goal, the keeper making a great save under pressure, and in an attempt to wind the clock down Palace replaced AJ with young Tom Soares. The tactic worked, as shortly after the whistle sounded, and ten man Palace had held on to a narrow win, but even narrow wins carry three points, and Palace fans would have been very grateful to have received them.

So, next week we entertain our old friend Steve Coppell, and his Reading side. Let's hope he is coming to give us another three points in our quest to gain ground on the leading pack in this Division.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Cedric Berthelin, Danny Butterfield, Tony Popovic, Mark Hudson, Danny Granville, Wayne Routledge (Mikele Leigertwood 51), Michael Hughes, Shaun Derry, Julian Gray, Andrew Johnson (Tom Soares 90), Neil Shipperley.

Substitutes not used: Dougie Freedman, Tommy Black, Gary Borrowdale.

Gillingham: Lars Hirschfeld, Kevin James, Barry Ashby, Leon Johnson, Richard Rose, Andy Hessenthaler, Paul Smith, Nicky Southall (Danny Spiller 80), Rod Wallace (Alan Pouton 79), Mamady Sidibe, Patrick Agyemang.

Substitutes not used: Matthew Jarvis, Dean Beckwith, Andrew Crofts.

Attendance: 17,485

Referee: Mr P Prosser