Crystal Palace - 4 (Warhurst 12. Dyer 48. Morrison 63. Lombardo pen 66.)
Bury - 2 (Daws 8. Preece 44.)

The third meeting between the two sides in only two weeks must have made some think that this was the only other team in the League. Considering our inglorious exit from the Worthington Cup (4-2 on aggregate) it was time to turn the tables, and in the goal stakes at least we are now all even. Considering Bury's fine defensive record prior to this match the result is even more convincing, and this is our finest win of the season so far.

The sides took to the field once more, and needless to say Palace got off to their usual slow start. Nine minutes into the game David Tuttle made a mess of a free kick, and the Bury players were rushing down the field on a quick counter attack. Rob Matthews put in a cross that was met first time by Nick Daws and suddenly we were down 1-0. Not being content to let the visitors get away to too good a start, four minutes later Paul Warhurst was involved in a good passage of play with Nick Rizzo, and once he got the ball back Paul cut through the defence and slammed the ball home from 10 yards out. Attilio Lombardo came close with a header, then Rizzo came even closer when the ball hit the cross bar. Further opportunities to Steve Thomson, Bruce Dyer and Fan Zhiyi came to naught, and it took until injury time for the next goal to come, and then it came at the wrong end. In a copy of their first goal it was Bury that once again put the ball in the back of the net, this time the scorer being Andy Preece - yes, you are right, he also used to play for Palace!

So the half time break had arrived, and once again we went to the dressing rooms trailling in the match after having made most of the play in the game. Whatever it was that Terry Venables had to say at the break it must have been pretty good, as the efforts of the side in the first half were more than matched by their performances in the second half.

It didn't take very long for Palace to be back on level terms. Three minutes after the restart Rizzo put a cross straight to the head of Dyer and this time Bruce made no mistake finishing off at the far post. The scores were level once again, and this time Palace looked full of running Almost on the hour Sasa Curcic was introduced into the side at the expense of Steve Thomson, and once again he proved to be the master sub. A bit of luck now?

A bit of luck was certainly what was needed, and for once the cards fell our way. From a position that was described as off side it was Clinton Morrison that intercepted a shot from Rizzo, and he duly put the ball past Dean Kiely to put us ahead for the first time in the match. Two minutes later it was going to be Sasa that put the game out of reach, but he was brought down inside the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Attilio took it upon himself to take the kick, and he made no mistake making the score 4-2, and giving us what proved to be an unassailable lead. A free kick shortly after saw Sasa send the ball sailing over the crossbar, then moments later Fraser Digby did well to save a goal bound shot and preserve our lead. Matthias Svensson came on for Morrison and with almost his first touch (I say almost because he never quite touched the ball) put the ball in the back of the net. If only he had managed to get his foot to it! Bury were well outplayed in this game, but there is still the away fixture to come.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Digby, Burton, Thomson (Curcic 59), Rizzo, Tuttle, Linighan, Lombardo, Warhurst, Morrison (Svensson 76), Dyer, Fan.
Not Used: Del Rio.

Bury: Kiely, Woodward, Barrick, Daws, Lucketti, Redmond, C Swailes, Matthews (Baldry 67), D'Jaffo (Preece 37), Johnrose (Avdiv 75), Billy.
Not Used: None.

Attendance: 13,219
Referee: Mr J Brandwood (Lichfield).