anti-addick
12-09-2000, 01:09 AM
TIGERS RESCUE LATE POINT AT EAGLES NEST.
Crystal Palace IFC 3 Hull City Tigers FC 3 (halftime 2-1)
Lansdown 14 Whiting 38
Tyrrell 24 Beecroft 46
Skinner 87 (pen) Motherby 90
With Hull playing away to Leyton Orient at 3pm meant that the Tigers had to leave the north at 5.30am for the 10.30 KO in London. These lads are truly commited football fans, Man Utd supporting cockneys should bow as subordinates if these two teams supporters ever meet. The teams may be as far apart in league position as is possible but if there were a league table for football fans then they would simply swap places.
From the kick off it was clear that City were still waking up, Palace tore into them for the opening half hour, dominating throughout. This made a mockery of the IFA 'pools panel' which had the visitors down for an away win. After five minutes Ben Couchman showed his eye for goal when a Palace attack was half cleared to the edge of the box, he struck a Jackie Chan turning kick half volley which luckily for the 'keeper was straight into his surprised chest. Darren Skinner was particularly enjoying dominance down the right flank having superior pace to the City fullback and supplying the forward line with good crosses. The opener came from a corner on 14 minutes, Chris Lansdown rose above the City defence to power the ball goalwards from 5 yards out, despite a desparate lunge and contact on the line it was deflected in - jubilant Lansdown will certainly claim it. Palace piled on the pressure with the visitors limited to occasional breaks, Ben Couchman's enormous throw-in's a la Richard Harris cause several goalmouth scrambles but hacks and swipes failed to find the back of the net. Andy Davidson and debutant Chris Lennon all had goes. Ben Couchman again forced a fine save from a shot he placed across goal to the far top corner, the 'keeper stretching to palm the ball out.
The Eagles doubled their lead on 24 minutes when the ball was sent through behind the Hull rear guard by record signing and debutant Chris Swales, Mark Tyrrell took up chase of the seemingly lost cause but looked second best until the outcoming 'keeper and covering defender lost all communication. Tyrrell stretched out a foot to poke the ball past them both and into the empty net.
The home side continued to press and looked like they'd made it 3 when Ben Couchman beat his man on the right wing and cut inside along the byline but unfortunately '£££' signs rang in his head and he hit the side netting when he could have cut the ball back to the waiting Swales or Tyrrell. Hull then made some changes and took a grip on a match that was slipping for them badly, they took a grip in the midfield whilst Palace went to sleep. This resulted in a goal as fortunate as the one they'd gifted the home team earlier. The ball was sent over the top from midfield and somehow slipped between two turning Palace defenders, Chris Whiting, the City forward, latched onto the loose ball and James Taylor-Nye could do nothing as he placed the ball was put past his right. This goal lifted Hull and they piled on some pressure for the remainder of the half although Palace did continue to enjoy good attacking play. The Tigers came close to an equaliser on 43 when a free header from a corner was put wide at the near post.
The second half was very open and both sides had chances but the Eagles were stunned from the kickoff when the ball was passed back to the defence, the clearance was charged down and Martin Beecroft struck a rocket half volley from 30 yards into the far corner. It was a stunning strike which James Taylor-Nye didn't expect and it was a disasterous start for Palace who lost a comfortable lead in minutes after having enough chances to finish off most teams. This benefitted the neutral though because both teams hunted the win, the half went by very quickly such was the action in each goalmouth. On 56 Graeme Hindshaw and Steve Nash linked well on the left to supply Ben Couchman with a shooting chance from 10 yards but he blazed over. Both sides struck the crossbar more than once and Palace thought they'd nicked it when Couchman held the ball beautifully before feeding the on rushing Swales to beat the offside trap but the debutant's shot beat the keeper and agonisingly struck the wrong side of the far post. At the other end James Taylor-Nye made a fine double stop, parrying the ball high and providing further entertainment when the deflection looped goalwards. Scrambling backwards he palmed the ball out for a corner.
The next breakthrough came near the end when Steve Chapman moved up for a Couchman throw-in, the ball fell kindly for him at the edge of the box, he cooly jinked a defender before teeing up a shot but was tackled from the back by the defender he'd just beaten and went down. Naturally the Hull players were a bit miffed with it being so late but it was a definate penno. Darren Skinner thumped the spot kick in and it looked like Palace would do it - But we wouldn't be Palace without letting it go at the death!! Hull struck the crossbar again after James Taylor-Nye stretched to his right and punched the ball half clear, it was headed from 7 yards against the crossbar. Deep into injury time the visitors then forced a corner which was flicked on to the back post and met with a powerful header by Les Motherby to equalise. It was just like Super Al putting the ball in the scousers net and they went crazy!
The draw wasn't wholly undeserved because Hull did have their chances although on the balance of play overall it was a little harsh on Palace who had more and better ones, with attacks that were potentially more dangerous. All in all though it's a funny old game which was played in great spirit, no bad tackles, abuse or animosity and importantly everyone enjoyed it. Thanks go out to the Hull lads who made the voyage 'dhan sarf' so we could play today.
Crystal Palace IFC 3 Hull City Tigers FC 3 (halftime 2-1)
Lansdown 14 Whiting 38
Tyrrell 24 Beecroft 46
Skinner 87 (pen) Motherby 90
With Hull playing away to Leyton Orient at 3pm meant that the Tigers had to leave the north at 5.30am for the 10.30 KO in London. These lads are truly commited football fans, Man Utd supporting cockneys should bow as subordinates if these two teams supporters ever meet. The teams may be as far apart in league position as is possible but if there were a league table for football fans then they would simply swap places.
From the kick off it was clear that City were still waking up, Palace tore into them for the opening half hour, dominating throughout. This made a mockery of the IFA 'pools panel' which had the visitors down for an away win. After five minutes Ben Couchman showed his eye for goal when a Palace attack was half cleared to the edge of the box, he struck a Jackie Chan turning kick half volley which luckily for the 'keeper was straight into his surprised chest. Darren Skinner was particularly enjoying dominance down the right flank having superior pace to the City fullback and supplying the forward line with good crosses. The opener came from a corner on 14 minutes, Chris Lansdown rose above the City defence to power the ball goalwards from 5 yards out, despite a desparate lunge and contact on the line it was deflected in - jubilant Lansdown will certainly claim it. Palace piled on the pressure with the visitors limited to occasional breaks, Ben Couchman's enormous throw-in's a la Richard Harris cause several goalmouth scrambles but hacks and swipes failed to find the back of the net. Andy Davidson and debutant Chris Lennon all had goes. Ben Couchman again forced a fine save from a shot he placed across goal to the far top corner, the 'keeper stretching to palm the ball out.
The Eagles doubled their lead on 24 minutes when the ball was sent through behind the Hull rear guard by record signing and debutant Chris Swales, Mark Tyrrell took up chase of the seemingly lost cause but looked second best until the outcoming 'keeper and covering defender lost all communication. Tyrrell stretched out a foot to poke the ball past them both and into the empty net.
The home side continued to press and looked like they'd made it 3 when Ben Couchman beat his man on the right wing and cut inside along the byline but unfortunately '£££' signs rang in his head and he hit the side netting when he could have cut the ball back to the waiting Swales or Tyrrell. Hull then made some changes and took a grip on a match that was slipping for them badly, they took a grip in the midfield whilst Palace went to sleep. This resulted in a goal as fortunate as the one they'd gifted the home team earlier. The ball was sent over the top from midfield and somehow slipped between two turning Palace defenders, Chris Whiting, the City forward, latched onto the loose ball and James Taylor-Nye could do nothing as he placed the ball was put past his right. This goal lifted Hull and they piled on some pressure for the remainder of the half although Palace did continue to enjoy good attacking play. The Tigers came close to an equaliser on 43 when a free header from a corner was put wide at the near post.
The second half was very open and both sides had chances but the Eagles were stunned from the kickoff when the ball was passed back to the defence, the clearance was charged down and Martin Beecroft struck a rocket half volley from 30 yards into the far corner. It was a stunning strike which James Taylor-Nye didn't expect and it was a disasterous start for Palace who lost a comfortable lead in minutes after having enough chances to finish off most teams. This benefitted the neutral though because both teams hunted the win, the half went by very quickly such was the action in each goalmouth. On 56 Graeme Hindshaw and Steve Nash linked well on the left to supply Ben Couchman with a shooting chance from 10 yards but he blazed over. Both sides struck the crossbar more than once and Palace thought they'd nicked it when Couchman held the ball beautifully before feeding the on rushing Swales to beat the offside trap but the debutant's shot beat the keeper and agonisingly struck the wrong side of the far post. At the other end James Taylor-Nye made a fine double stop, parrying the ball high and providing further entertainment when the deflection looped goalwards. Scrambling backwards he palmed the ball out for a corner.
The next breakthrough came near the end when Steve Chapman moved up for a Couchman throw-in, the ball fell kindly for him at the edge of the box, he cooly jinked a defender before teeing up a shot but was tackled from the back by the defender he'd just beaten and went down. Naturally the Hull players were a bit miffed with it being so late but it was a definate penno. Darren Skinner thumped the spot kick in and it looked like Palace would do it - But we wouldn't be Palace without letting it go at the death!! Hull struck the crossbar again after James Taylor-Nye stretched to his right and punched the ball half clear, it was headed from 7 yards against the crossbar. Deep into injury time the visitors then forced a corner which was flicked on to the back post and met with a powerful header by Les Motherby to equalise. It was just like Super Al putting the ball in the scousers net and they went crazy!
The draw wasn't wholly undeserved because Hull did have their chances although on the balance of play overall it was a little harsh on Palace who had more and better ones, with attacks that were potentially more dangerous. All in all though it's a funny old game which was played in great spirit, no bad tackles, abuse or animosity and importantly everyone enjoyed it. Thanks go out to the Hull lads who made the voyage 'dhan sarf' so we could play today.