Palace Res 8 Portsmouth Res 0
Palace reserves destroyed a young Pompey second XI last night (Tues 6th April) in a match that was most notable for the return to action of Italian striker Nicola Ventola.
Ventola put in 45 minutes, getting a goal on his return to action. There were plenty more big names in the Palace team, with the likes of Vassilis Lakis, Joonas Kolkka and Sandor Torghelle all playing the whole match.
Palace had to wait until the 25th minute for their first goal, with Ventola finishing off a one-on-one against the keeper in some style. The Eagles doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time through Sandor Torghelle, but it was in the second-half that the floodgates opened.
Torghelle struck twice more to complete his hat-trick, with goals from Ben Watson, Lewis Grabban and Antony Danze sandwiched in between.
The rout was completed in the final minute, when Joonas Kolkka tapped home a rebound. After this latest match, Palace are up to second place in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League South – although Charlton’s second team have already claimed the title.
Palace XI: Speroni, Butterfield (Fray ’71), Borrowdale, Watson, Powell (R Hall ’64), Wilson, Lakis, Danze, Kolkka, Ventola (Grabban ’46), Torghelle
Other recent reserve games
Watford Res 2 Palace Res 1 (29th March)
A young Palace team went two goals down at Vicarage Road in the second half of this game, and Lewis Grabban’s 85th minute strike proved nothing more than a consolation.
Palace XI: Banks, Wilson, Wiggins, El-Salahi, Hudson (Starkey ’46), Spence (Lyons ’72), Berry (Dayton ’81), Danze, R.Hall, Welch, Grabban
Derby Res 1 Palace Res 4 (22nd March)
Palace got off to a flyer in this reserve team clash, knocking three in before half time. A goal from Dougie Freedman was accompanied by a brace from Wayne Andrews to put the Eagles firmly in control of the tie.
Derby got one back with just ten minutes remaining but Palace still weren’t finished, with Antony Danze rounding off the scoring.
Palace XI: Wilkinson, Wilson, Wiggins, Watson (Watanabe ’70), Hudson (Welch ’62), Togwell, Berry, Danze, Freedman, Andrews (Grabban ’63), R.Hall
Palace Res 1 Leicester Res 2 (16th March)
The reserves dropped to a disappointing defeat at home to Leicester, with the Foxes notching the winner with just a couple of minutes remaining.
Sam Togwell had earlier equalised Leicester’s second-half opener, but the last word was to belong to the Midlands side.
Palace XI: Speroni, Wilson, Wiggins, Watson, El-Salahi, Togwell, Berry, Danze, Shipperley (Welch ’46), Andrews (Grabban ’70), R.Hall
Norwich Res 1 Palace Res 0 (1st March)
This match of little note was won in the 80th minute by Norwich to condemn Palace to their second reserve league defeat in a week.
Palace XI: Speroni, Wilson, R.Hall, Watson, Togwell, Borrowdale, Kolkka, Danze, Berry, Shipperley, Torghelle
Southampton Res 2 Palace Res 1 (22nd February)
An experienced Palace reserve team slumped to defeat against Southampton – a result that put a serious dent in the Eagles title hopes.
Palace got off to the worst of starts in this match by conceding within the first 30 seconds. The rest of the half saw no more goals, but Saints went further ahead in the second half. Despite a headed goal from Antony Danze, Palace couldn’t get back into the game.
Palace XI: Speroni, Butterfield, Togwell, Popovic, Borrowdale, Lakis, Watson, Danze, Kolkka (Hall ‘75), Torghelle, Andrews (Dolan ‘85)