FA Premier League - Southern Division

Sunday 26^th August 2007

Crystal Palace Ladies 3-1 Team Bath

On this, the second weekend of the new season, both teams were looking to gain their first points of the season after disappointing results on the opening day.

The game began in a scrappy fashion as both teams tried to impose themselves on each other, but with little impact. Team Bath forced a number of early corners as their attempts to break the deadlock were halted as the commanding Palace 'keeper, Kelly Cooper, dominated her area.

At the other end of the field Palace weren't as fluent as they would have liked, although Williams and Curtis worked hard to give the Team Bath defence plenty to think about.

However, the game sparked into life in the 40^th minute as East won possession for the Eagles and swapped a couple for short passes with Dunmall who then fed Williams on the left who spun in a flash and smashed home a furious shot in the top corner to make it 1-0.

This first piece of skill inspired everyone to raise their game and in the next five minutes Palace showed composure on the ball and movement off of it, with the Eagles going close for a second just before half time, although Becky Merritt's effort was brilliantly saved by the Bath 'keeper.

Palace began the second half as they ended the first but without results as Bath pushed forward for the equaliser, but faced formidable opponents in centre back pairing of Whitcombe and Walters.

Team Bath eventually got their reward from the pressure in the 67^th minute when they caught Palace flat-footed and their No.9 headed home the equaliser.But just three minutes later Palace were back in front as substitute Kenne Ogunneye beat the Bath left back and her blocked shot fell into the path of Curtis who drilled the ball into bottom corner to make it 2-1.

This second goal gave Palace the confidence to kill off the game, which eventually happened in the Team Bath look dishearten as Palace searched for another decisive goal to put the game out of the visitors reach.Palace eventually got the third in the 87^th min when a long clearance was flicked on by Ogunneye to Williams who coolly beat two defenders and the 'keeper to roll the ball into the net to make it 3-1 to Palace and job done.

Palace:Cooper, Moore, Whitcombe, Walters, Newbound, Poole (Ogunneye), East, Merritt, Dunmall, Williams (Longville), Curtis (Callaghan)

Scorers: Williams (40, 87), Curtis (70)

Next Fixture: Palace vs. Keynsham Town LFC (a)