Development Squad Shine Under Floodlights

Memorable Night at Brentford

This home fixture was switched to Brentford’s Griffin Park to give the girls the experience of playing at a Championship standard stadium under the floodlights, and what a night it turned out to be.

Palace started the stronger and took the game to Brentford, K’Shaela Burch-Waldren and Ash Marchant completely controlled midfield and dictated play in the first 20 mins, Rennete Ofori held the ball up really well and it was her who set up the first chance for Okasia Brown following a pass to feet from Marchant, Brown’s shot was superbly saved but the rebound fell to Bekki Keyte who hit a great shot onto the crossbar. Next it was Shay Palmer, who broke free following a fine pass down the line from Sadiye Yilmaz but her strike fell agonizingly wide of the far post. On 25mins the hosts broke and scored a goal with a great strike leaving Hannah Donnelly no chance in the Palace goal, following this Palace almost equalised through the hard working Isabell Nicholls but her strike was well saved. Brentford then enjoyed a spell of dominance as they threatened to extend the lead but Palace stood strong with help from Lauren Henry who had an outstanding half at the back and we got to the break trailing by the single goal.

A tactical change at half time saw Alice Fuller move into midfield, Keyte drop back to fullback and Ella Aylett to come on wide right. 5 mins in and Palace were level, a great through ball from Yilmaz got Palmer in behind the defence on the left, she crossed perfectly for Brown who calmly side footed into the bottom corner beyond the keeper, the tactical switch then came into effect as Keyte and Aylett combined well down the right, Aylett played it to the feet of Tyra Wilson who flicked it wide for Brown to cross, the ball eluded everyone and fell to Palmer who crossed it back in for Keyte to cleverly lay it off for Wilson who turned and fired into the corner to give us a 2-1 lead.

Aylett again threatened down the right and crossed but Burch-Waldren slammed just wide. The game then swung in the hosts favour as they threatened a determined back four but captain, Lucy Baker, took control in what was a very strong individual second half performance and goalkeeper Donnelly looked in control of her area during a faultless performance.

In the 78th min Palace were awarded a free kick 35 yards out, Henry stepped up and shocked everybody by going for goal and she was mighty close as the ball sailed just wide with the keeper beaten, with Palace now dominating a stunning through ball by Fuller released Brown in the 80th min, her shot was saved brilliantly by the keeper, the rebound fell to Palmer who smashed against the crossbar and over.

The defining moment of the game came in the 82nd min when a corner was swung over by the excellent Burch-Waldren, a scramble in the six-yard box followed and the ball dropped for Palmer to gleefully slam home to leave a final score of 3-1 to the Palace.

Massive respect must go to Abi Deene who was desperate to play but admitted during her half time warm up that her troublesome knee was causing her discomfort, she came on for 5 mins at the end for the experience but her brave and unselfish decision helped the team to victory as she would not have been able to give 100 per cent.

So, a magical night at Griffin Park ended with lots of photos and selfies and a soaking for me (thanks for that girls…lol) The girls played with such passion and determination and the joy on their faces as the three goals went in showed just how much the club means to them, they fully enjoyed being back at full strength and it was so lovely to end the season with happy smiling faces before, during and after the game. With so many fantastic individual performances it is hard to pick a player of the match but, once again, it was K’Shaela Burch-Waldren who stood out.

SQUAD
Hannah Donnelly, Alice Fuller, Lauren Henry, Lucy Baker, Sadiye Yilmaz, Bekki Keyte, K’Shaela Burch-Waldren, Ash Marchant, Shay Palmer, Okasia Brown, Ren Offori, Tyra Wilson, Isabell Nicholls, Ella Aylett, Abi Deene.