If ever the cliché ‘a game of two halves’ was appropriate, then it was at Selhurst Park for an entertaining match between two fierce rivals, Palace and Brighton, for the Professional Development League Division 2 match.
The first half was a somewhat dull affair, with little action during an evenly contested match.
However, the Seagulls took the lead as Palace’s defence backed off striker George Barker, allowing the Albion man to fire a 25 yard thunderbolt which crashed against the bar, only to rebound against the unfortunate Lewis Price and into the path of Goodwin, who slotted into an empty net.
Palace didn’t show any signs of waking up, and Albion doubled their lead after more good work down the Palace left by Barker. The youngster jinked his way past Quade Taylor and Ryan Inniss, firing a shot in from the narrowest of angles, only to see Price parry, but Asmundsson was there to tap home Brighton’s second of the evening.
The away side continued to dominate, with Courtney Richards’ free kick almost making it three. Next to test Palace was Brennan Dickenson who saw his shot tipped around the post by Lewis Price. The Seagulls were totally in control of the match, with Palace struggling to get out of their own half.
Soon after the restart Palace had half hearted appeals for a penalty after Allassani fell in the box, but the referee waved play on.
It took the introduction of Connor Dymond and Nabil Guedioura, brother of Adlene, to really spark the match into life. Dymond’s surging runs and energy invigorated a lethargic looking Palace side, with the midfielder pulling the strings from a deep position.
Shortly after their introduction, Ryan Inniss’ poor pass allowed Emil Asmundssen in on goal, but the striker checked his run and Palace’s defence recovered before he was able to pull the trigger.
Dymond introduced himself to the game with a silky piece of skill. The ball was cleared out of the Brighton area and he casually flicked his foot behind him to volley it, before attempting a scissor kick which flew narrowly over the bar. Dymond’s introduction rallied Palace and some good work from Kyle De Silva gave Ibra Sekajja the chance to score from close range, but the striker could only put his shot over the bar.
De Silva was involved again when his quick free kick sent Nabil Guedioura clean through on goal and the younger brother of summer signing Adlene kept his cool to pull a goal back for the Eagles. Connor Dymond then played in Quade Taylor down the right, and his left footed shot was well saved by the Brighton ‘keeper, only for Guedioura to grab his second goal of the game and pull Palace level.
Just when it seemed Brighton had weathered the storm created by Palace’s ultra attacking performance late in the second half, the ball fell to Kyle De Silva on the edge of the area, but his left footed shot cannoned back off the post. Even then, the game was not over as with the last touch of the match, Guedioura stumbled and fired a shot into the body of the ‘keeper, with Palace being denied what would have been a sensational victory.