The reserves returned to action on Monday evening with a 4-3 Combination cup victory over Charlton Athletic.
Both sides fielded a strong line-up with Charlton having at least one familiar name on trial with them, ex-Palace central defender Darren Powell, who started for the home side at the back alongside another trialist, ex-Leeds Utd and Republic of Ireland left back Ian Harte.
Palace fell behind early on, but rallied and recovered strongly for the remainder of the game.
The opening goal of the match came on seven minutes when striker Chris Dickson cut in from the left of midfield and teed up Jonjo Shelvery, who fired a shot home for the lead from inside the area. Palace responded just afterwards with shots from Rhoys Wiggins and Leandre Griffit, one wide and one just over, before Charlton added a 2nd goal when Dickson met Simon Basey'scross from the left with a shot from close range.
Despite being two down, Palace replied soon after with a goal of their own, shortly before the half hour mark.
Kieran Djilali got away down the right flank past Harte and whipped a cross into the box that was met by Calvin Andrew's firm header into the back of the net. Nick Carle then tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the box after the restart, shortly followed by Andrew going close again when he struck a shot that forced goalkeeper Rob Elliot into making a diving save.
With Palace pressing, the equaliser came with 10 minutes left before the interval.
Palace broke to the other end of the pitch and it was defender James Comley who added the killer touch with a fine curling shot from distance that beat 'keeper Elliot for the equaliser.
The icing on the cake then arrived just before half time, as the Eagles added a third goal in the 40th minute.
Djilali got onto the end of Griffit's corner from the right, and his header went over both the goalkeeper and a defender on the line to give Palace a 3-2 well deserved half time lead.
Palace started as brightly in the second as they had finished the first half, and Griffit had a shot that went just wide of the post in the opening minutes. The lead was increased further in the 64th minute when Kuqi held off Jonathan Fortune's challenge on the edge of the area before turning and striking a low shot into the corner of the net for the fourth.
Kuqi then went close again minutes later with a shot from inside the box, before defender Dean Sinclair equalised for Charlton with shot past David Wilkinson from 20 yards or so with eight minutes remaining, to make it 4-3.
Palace have now played and won three of their four combination cup group matches, and have virtually secured their passage to the next stages.
Next up for the reserves is a trip to Whyteleafe next Tuesday evening (25th), for the second round of the Surrey senior cup.
Charlton: Elliot, Sinclair, Harte, Wright, Powell (Long 61), Fortune, Racon (Christensen 64), Shelvey, McLeod (Godfrey 73), Dickson, Basey. Subs not used: Arter, Lee.
Crystal Palace: Wilkinson, Abnett (Carolan 73), Wiggins, Comley, Ertl, Nnamani, Djilali, Carle, Andrew, Kuqi (Thomas 78), Griffit (Smith 66). Subs not used: Adelakun, Holland.
By Alan Russell.
