Season 2001/2002

Tournament Report

Bodington Hall, Leeds 13th/14th July 2002

DAY 1: "BUNDESLIGA"

Day 1 | Day 2 | Build-Up

Action from Palace v. Norwich (1)

Positive Palace took a knock in the opening group match with an unlucky defeat against the Norwich. With the Canaries penned in for most of the game by the birds of prey you’d expect them to make an easy meal of things but a defensive lapse allowed Marc Libbra to burst through early on to lob John Page from 20 yards. Harse on Palace who’d already created a couple of chances, but it got worse as the game went on with the young side missing everything presented to them and having to work against a referee who hated London and her people.

Palace v. Norwich (2)

The closest Palace reached was a missed free header from the normally prolific Alex Pursey following Ben Couchman's cross. City barely left their own half and relied on the break and in the end a dogged, hardworking display won them the match sending Palace bottom of the group.

Palace v. Norwich (3)

Palace v. Norwich (4)

A brace from Alex Pursey and a brilliant goal from Andy Davidson put the Red Devils in trouble in the group following their earlier draw with Queen of the South. Palace opened the scoring early on when a long ball from Ben Couchman was neatly flicked through by Mark Tyrrell to his strike partner Pursey. Pursey beat the out-coming Barthez to the ball and chipped over him for the opener. Palace continued to press, both Darren Skinner and Brett Greenwood stretching the Man U defense forcing Barthez to make several stops.

Action from Palace v. QOS (1)

Palace’s goal of the tournament came directly from the restart, Davidson immediately swept a pass left to Greenwood before making a run himself. Greenwood took on a beat Neville before cutting perfectly back from the byline meeting Davidson's perfectly timed run who made no mistake and thumped the ball into the net from 12 yards, 2-0. United pulled one back from a neat through-ball when lightening Giggs out-paced the Palace rear guard, rounded John Page and slotted home from a narrow angle. The Irony was that Page had not needed to touch the ball in anger until that point, such was the Palace domination. Alex Pursey sealed the match late on when Barthez miss-kicked his goal kick. Pursey controlled the poor dispatch and superbly lobbed the bald French git from fully 35 yards.

Palace v. QOS (2)

Palace moved to second in the group following Queen of the Souths’ loss to Norwich

Action from Palace v. QOS (3)

Palace needed only a draw to reach second place in the group after Norwich won their 3^rd match against Manchester United but set their stall into beating the SPL division 1 team as guarantee of making the Cup competition on Sunday and an extra 2 hours in bed. A slow first have put the eagles on a knife edge after again squandering chances, Nick McGinty and Darren Skinner both guilty. Midway through the second half McGinty turned provider for the match winner.

Action from Palace v. QOS (4)

Kevin Hope passed out from defense and McGinty spotted a run from Brett Greenwood, slotting a perfectly weighted pass inside Alan Gray. Greenwood raced onto the pass and nicked it under the out- coming Colin Scott in goal, the ball painfully trickling into the net to win the match. Late on John Page made a great save with his feet from Sean O’Conner to hand Palace victory