The Crystal Palace Development Girls team featuring Bermuda Women’s National Team player K’Shaela Burch-Waldron went into this fixture at full strength led by captain Lucy Baker, pre match mood was great and the girls looked really happy and determined to do well against Colne Valley first team, one of the top teams in the league.
In the away fixture at the start of the season the young Palace Girls were beaten 7-0 in a game that really hit home the quality of the league and the massive step up the girls had taken on.
The first half was an even affair with both teams playing some excellent football, the first Palace chance came on 11 mins when good work by Sadiye Yilmaz and Alice Fuller down the left produced a cross which was taken off the boot of Issy Nicholls as she was about to shoot, the resulting corner was swung over by Burch-Waldron and cleared to the feet of Hollie Gallone, her cross shot whistled just wide of the post, Charlotte Ferguson then produced a wonder save following a cross shot to keep the score level. Following an even 20mins Palace began to dominate with Burch-Waldron and Mercedes Bromfield taking control of the midfield but, completely against the run of play the visitors took the lead in the 33rd min following a defensive error, they then extended the lead to 2-0 just before the break to leave a very frustrated Palace team behind.
The girls came out for the second half in determined mood hoping to put the injustice of the first half right. It was an entertaining half that they completely dominated with many chances falling their way. Bekki Keyte excelled with a strong performance and it was her cross following a 30 yard run that just eluded Keely Nazareth in the box in the 51st min, next it was Burch-Waldron who struck a shot from 20 yards that the keeper saved well. Keyte sent over the corner that was met by the head of Lauren Henry but flew just over. Palace got the goal they deserved on 65mins when the excellent Burch-Waldron cleverly chipped the keeper from 20 yards, this spurred the girls on even more as they pushed for an equalizer and Abi Deene linked well with Nazareth only for her effort to sneak past the post.
Inevitable gaps were left as we stormed forward and this was exploited in the 76th min when the visitors broke and the center forward completed her hat-trick. Heads did not drop as the girls knew they were on top as they continued to play some great controlled football in a real attacking display, on 80mins Deene fed Nazareth who was clattered to the ground, a penalty was awarded and Deene stepped up to slot home setting up an exciting 10 min finale. It was all Palace as Ash Marchant stormed down the left a cut it inside for overlapping full back Yilmaz, her cross was met by the other attacking fullback, Alice Fuller who shot just wide. Palace were then awarded a free kick 25 yards out that Burch-Waldron took and fizzed it agonizingly, inches wide of the far post, next it was Linda Mehmeti who slotted the perfect through ball for Keyte on the right, she got in behind and drove towards goal, as the keeper came out Keyte cleverly chipped it over her, as the ball flew towards goal everyone held their breath and watched it just clear the crossbar. With 5 mins’ injury time added Palace continued the onslaught and Mehmeti produced another inch perfect ball for Nazareth, the defender tackled from behind and made contact with ball after taking the legs of Nazareth, a massive penalty appeal that everybody in red and blue screamed for but the ref waved it away, this was the last chance and an entertaining match ended with a 3-2 to the visitors.
Palace player of the match was the majestic Burch-Waldron who on this evidence will be pushing for a first team call up next season
