Crystal Palace were held to a 0-0 draw at Stonebridge Road against Charlton in a Totesport.com Combination League Central Division fixture on Monday night.
Gary Issott fielded a relatively young side, but welcomed the first team experience of Lee Hills, Johnny Ertl, Simon Thomas, Scott Flinders and James Scowcroft to his starting eleven.
After a rather uneventful first 20 minutes, the home side created the first chance on goal. Scott Wagstaff did well on the right before laying the ball into the path of Alex Stavrinou, whose effort was well saved by Scott Flinders.
Wagstaff then came close himself five minutes later when he forced a decent save from Flinders by hitting a decent strike that the Palace keeper did well to tip onto the post.
Charlton were the livelier of the two sides and continued their pressure on the half hour mark. Chris Solly floated in a free kick that was knocked down into former Gillingham striker Chris Dickson's path, but his volley flew over the bar.
Then, five minutes before half time a corner swung in by Ben Davisson was headed just wide by Deon Burton.
The first half belonged to Charlton, but the second half certainly belonged to Palace as Gary Issott's men were a transformed outfit for the second 45.
Simon Thomas showed some early intent with a decent strike from range over the bar, before Johnny Ertl ventured forward from the back to unleash a 30 yard drive that never troubled Charlton keeper, Darren Randolph.
James Scowcroft should have opened the scoring in the 54th minute when he found himself with a shooting opportunity four yards out, but he somehow conspired to screw it wide.
Randolph then pulled off a series of tremendous saves to keep his side in the game.
First he denied Thomas an almost certain goal with a fine one-handed save, before denying him again later on when he saved from eight yards after James Dayton had done well to set-up the chance.
In between, James Scowcroft again should have scored when he met a Kieron Cadogan cross with a flying header, but he couldn't get it on target.
On 69 minutes Randolph again prevented Palace from taking the lead when he saved well from substitute Jamie Smith.
He then continued his winning battle against Thomas on 74 minutes. The Palace striker took advantage of a defensive slip in the Charlton back line to take the ball into the area and hit a decent low drive that Randolph saved well at his near post.
Charlton's only response came in the 80th minute when Burton played a superb reverse ball to Wagstaff. His shot looked odds on to find the back of the net until Flinders pulled off his own superb save with a fingertip block to tip it round the post.
As the game reached its final moments, Scott Flinders was caught in the face by Burton and was forced off the field. Not for the first time this season, Jerry Nnamani donned the keeper's shirt and gloves to see out the final stages.
And he almost giftwrapped the winning goal for the Addicks right at the death when he flapped at a cross and the ball fell to the feet of Tarner Tuna. Fortunately though, with the goal gaping, Lee Hills got back in time to block the shot on the line.
Palace Reserves are next in action on Wednesday 1st April at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. Kick off is at 7pm and the game will be played at Bromley Football Club's Hayes Lane Stadium.
Charlton: Randolph, Moutaouakil, Clark, Stavrinou, Sinfield, Davisson (Tuna 65), Wagstaff, Solly, Dickson (Perkins 70), Burton, Yussuff. Subs (not used): Lee, Bellamy.
Crystal Palace: Flinders, Abnett, Hills, Comley, Ertl, Nnamani, Cadogan (Adelakun 80), N'Diaye (Smith 67), Thomas (Pinney 80), Scowcroft, Dayton. Subs (not used): Holness, Roberts,.
