Crystal Palace Ladies FC

Not knowing what to expect our girls followed instructions and took the game to Tottenham right from the start. Our opponents didn’t know what hit them and, in truth, we should have been 3-0 up in the first 20 mins! First a goalmouth scramble produced some stunning blocks by the Spurs defence and keeper, Ella Aylett was blocked at point blank range but Okasia Brown was first to the rebound only to see the keeper put her body on the line to save, Bekki Keyte reacted but her shot was hacked off the line as the hosts breathed a sigh of relief. Next it was Tyra Wilson who went close connecting onto a fine Keyte cross but shooting just wide, Palace got their reward 20 mins in when a corner was swung over by Olivia Parson, Brown touched it on and Jenna Brunton gleefully smashed home from 6 yards to give our girls a well-deserved lead. Tottenham came back and looked strong down the flanks but two crosses from the left and one from the right were comfortably dealt with by Hannah Donnelly in the Palace goal, in another heart stopping moment the right winger broke free but as she was about to strike Sadiye Yimaz slid in with a goal saving tackle, Spurs then came down the left but in an identical incident it was K’Shaela Burch-Waldron who denied the winger, during this period Lucy Baker and Becky Glazebrook marshalled the defence superbly and although under pressure always looked in full control. The ref then called an end to an entertaining, pulsating first half with our girl’s one goal to the good.
The second half saw Palace start slowly and they conceded an equalizer on 48 mins when the ball fell kindly to the striker after rebounding from the post, this lifted the hosts and they took the lead 4 mins later taking advantage of a defensive error. Some teams would fold following two quick goals like that but our girls continued to fight with Alice Fuller and Parson controlling the midfield area to great effect and Brunton working so hard up front chasing every ball. Substitute, Keely Nazareth began to influence the game with her mazy runs and on 61 mins she went down in the box but penalty claims fell and deaf ears and play continued, on 72 mins Keyte played in Brown who was tackled strongly in the box, supporters appealed but it seemed a fair challenge, although, as she tried to get back on her feet she was dragged back down by the defenders arm for a very strong penalty claim which, again, fell on deaf ears. Persistence paid off on 75 mins when another Parson corner was met on the half volley by Alice Fuller to equalize sparking jubilant scenes on the pitch and in the stand, immediately after, as Palace pushed for a winner, Ash Marchant played down the line to Keyte who produced a great cross that was met by the head of Parson, the ball looped over the keeper and looked goal bound only for the defender to hook off the line. Tottenham came back and looked for a winner themselves only to be denied by a fantastic tackle from Burch-Waldron, Palace fate was sealed 8 mins from the end when a long through ball fell behind the defence for the striker to stroke home and seal victory for the hosts.
In summary this was a truly great performance from our girls who, complimented by Brunton Burch-Waldron, Glazebrook and Parson, stepped up a gear and relished the challenge of the next level. They did not deserve to lose and, at least, deserved a share of the points, as coaches we could not be more proud of each and every player on the pitch today, this game will have developed the girls further and we look forward to the bigger challenge next season with confidence that we will be able to compete.