24/10 Palace 2nd Half

By: Tony Butcher
Date: 25/10/2000

No changes in personnel were made by either team, though Palace did noticeably up their pace and flung in more crosses in from deep. In other words, back to their old percentages type football. This half was mainly Palace pressure and the isolated (very isolated) Town break.

Crystal Palace 0 Grimsby Town 1
24 Oct 2000, Nationwide League Division 1

I think their 'keeper only made one save in the whole of the second half, and that in the last 10 minutes when Campbell intercepted a Palace pass 40 yards out, advanced 10 yards and smashed a half volley low to the foot of the 'keepers right hand post. There were 3 or 4 moments of danger created. Allen wriggled through a couple of challenges on the right side of the penalty box and was almost trampled on by three defenders when about to shoot at the corner of the 6 yard box. Livingstone, late on, burst through three challenges, again on the right hand side, and was dispossessed when about to shoot, 10 yards out. Truly Ronaldo-esque play by the delicate, talismanic battering ram. After a chipped pass by Butterfield (I think) Nielsen ran in to the penalty area and, in almost exactly the same position as Freedman was for his clear chance early in the first half, a Palace defender just slid across to clear as he was about to turn and shoot

Grimsby Town Coyne McDermott Groves Handyside Gallimore Butterfield Coldicott Campbell Livingstone Allen Nielsen   Subs Raven Clare Croudson Donovan D Smith

Perhaps Town's best move of the game, involving one touch passing and movement by Coldicott, Campbell, Allen and Livvo on the Town right 40 yards out, saw Butterfield run through the outside right position as Coldicott chipped a 20 yard through ball down the line. Butterfield was alone beyond the defence and hea ded into the penalty area and towards the bye-line. He looked up, saw Allen and Livvo steaming into the centre of the goal and missed them by 20 yards. That's it as far as Town attacks go. A few potential breaks were snuffed out by miscued passes, and passes left so late the front players were offside by the time the ball was released. Livvo in particular raged against the failure to pass early enough. Oh yes, and Staunton was booked for handball when a ball down the right touchline sailed over his slightly ginger bouffant. He hung out his left hand and caught the ball as Nielsen was about to hurtle down the wing with no-one between him and goal.

Palace huffed and puffed but never looked like blowing Town's relatively stably constructed house down. Groves and Handyside were even more rock like in the centre, with Groves in particular making some exceptionally well timed interceptions at the near post. Palace put the ball in the box a heck of a lot, with the emphasis on the full backs clipping in diagonal balls from 20 yards out. They seemed to have noticed that as Town only had three small players in the midfield Town were playing "narrow" football. There were massive spaces on the wings which their full backs dutifully stepped into. This pressure saw the Town midfield settle back about 5 yards closer to the defence than in the first half, meaning that the front three became quite isolated from the rest of the team. They came further and further back themselves to try and get the ball, and to assist in defence. They all worked like billio, with at one time Livvo playing as an auxiliary right back.

Chances? Plenty of wobble inducing moments, mainly from set pieces, which the referee (D'Urso) was happy to give them. He made two or three appalling decisions to give Palace free kicks close to the edge of the area. Fortunately for Town, Steve Staunton played like an old man who hadn't kicked a ball for several years. His best opportunity was about 25 yards out, right in the centre of goal. The referee ensured the wall was at least 10 yards away, to give Staunton as much space as he needed to bend the ball powerfully....into the15th row of the stand. Staunton also failed to produce accurate crosses when given free kicks near the right side of the penalty area, a few yards from the touchline. He also fluffed a couple of attempted drives from the edge of the box, scuffing them weakly wide.

During the middle of the half Donovan was seen standing on the touchline, ready to come on. After a minute or two he went back and sat down. This was during a period when Palace were seemingly turning the screw with cross after cross, challenge after challenge and hoof after hoof, all raining down on the middle of the penalty box. The atmosphere was getting more like a cup-tie, with Palace fans roaring them on and the Town fans cheering rapturously at every clearance, miss-hit shot and catch by Coyne. Campbell produced a fantastic last ditch blocking tackle after T Black had dribbled down the wing past McDermott, got to the bye-line about 10 yards to the Town right of goal, and pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot. About 6 players were all in a line inside the 6 yard box, with two Palace players steaming in from outside the box. Campbell raced across and flung himself between men and ball, injuring himself in the process.

Palace threatened most from a series of corners on Town's right, flung to the far post. Coyne half punched a couple away (and even caught one under very heavy pressure, right next to the post) with the one of these punches only reaching a Palace player about 10 yards out. A combination of several small Town players became an impassable wedge which swept the ball away from danger for a while. One of Coyne's punches turned out to be a fine save after another scramble in the middle of the area saw a Palace player head firmly toward the top right corner, with several players between Coyne and ball. Coyne punched it away as a reaction stop.

With 10 minutes left McDermott (who had just started limping after twisting whilst clearing) was replaced by Donovan. Town kept the same formation with Butterfield retreating to right back. Donovan ran around and made two or three vital interceptions. Two minutes later Raven replaced Allen and Town reverted to 5-3-2, with Raven right in the centre. This was a reaction to Palace's substitutions and panicky route one play, which was starting to create danger. Apart from once (when the back four moved up for an offside, forgetting Raven was on the pitch) they all worked as a perfect Unit. They moved as one, with the midfield moving with them. At times we could see that the Town back 8 were acting like bellows, squeezing the Palace players in the middle when they did get the ball.

During the last frantic minutes Palace had a couple of opportunities. Their substitute C Morrison (who was very tricky) met a cross at Coyne's right hand post, about 9 yards out with a flying hooked half volley. Coyne dived to his right slightly and parried the ball to exactly where Morrison had fallen. Morrison, whilst stumbling, volleyed the ball back immediately and Coyne caught the ball in his midriff as he spread himself. It was a little fortunate in that the second shot went straight to him, but the speed of Coyne's reaction made it a great double save. One of their forwards managed to head about an inch wide from 10 yards out after a cross from their right resulted in half clearances, bibbles and bobbles in the heart of the Town box. Groves, on the line, waved his boot at the ball as it bounced just past the post. In the last minute of the 3 added (and no-one could work out where they came from) Black wriggled free down the Town right, along the bye-line and shot from about 8 yards out. Coyne stuck out his boot and toe poked it wide. And finally it was over, the game and Town's Selhurst hoodoo.

It was an excellent team performance, everyone contributed something, even Butterfield who at least ran around and harried Palace. His distribution was still poor, as was his positioning in the second half, but he did form part of the three midfield snappers. Coldicott was immense, forming a one man barrier at times. He completely dominated the middle of the pitch such that Palace had to take off their star youngster (Mullins) and Jamie Pollock (or as someone asked "Is that player really called pillock") was ephemeral. Coldicott just brushed him aside. Allen's link play and lay-offs contributed greatly to the transition from defence to attack, and Nilesen and Livvo played excellent defensive games (by running back down the left and right when Palace started to overload the wings).

Most of the plaudits go to the defence, especially the centre. Stoic. For all Palace's pressure they didn't get many shots in on goal. And when they did, there's always Superdan. From first to last Palace were outwitted and outfought. From manager downwards Town were superior.

Leaving Selhurst Park smiling is a new experience, let's hope it becomes a habit. The Palace supporters sang "Glad All Over" throughout the game, but curiously, not at the end. I wonder why?

Nick0's man of the Match - Coldicott, just in front of Groves, Handyside and Coyne.

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