First half goals from James Comley and Nathanial Pinney secured another three points for Crystal Palace Reserves against Gillingham Reserves at the krbs Priestfield Stadium.

In the bright April sunshine, Palace fielded a young side that also featured Paddy McCarthy in his first competitive match since his shoulder injury. The Irishman lined up with Johnny Ertl in the back four and impressed with a steady display and emerged after an hour without any problems.

The match though was a scrappy affair with Gillingham's young side proving, if anything, mere stubborn opposition without ever causing the Palace defence any real problems.

Instead it was Palace who made more of their possession, with Comley and Alessane N'Diaye controlling the middle of the park with confidence and relative ease.

And it was a case of first shot, first goal for Palace when, on the quarter of an hour mark, Comley was allowed the time and space 20 yards out to unleash a dipping volley over the Gills keeper.

Despite controlling the proceedings the next chance didn't arrive until shortly before half time when James Dayton lined up a free kick from 20 yards out. The winger stepped up and curled a brilliant effort up and over the wall, but agonisingly it struck the upright with the Gillingham keeper left standing.

But the lead was extended a minute later when Nathanial Pinney sprung the offside trap when put through the Gillingham defence by an excellent through ball. The striker needed no encouragement as he confidently slipped the ball under the keeper from ten yards.

The second half proved to be much more of the same, with both sides battling hard in the middle of the park and restricting eachother to only a handful of half chances.

Again Palace controlled the tempo of the game, but failed to convert their possession into any real clear cut chances.

Gillingham had their only chance of the match on 86 minutes when Josh Sergeant's cross found Charlie Howard, but the midfielder headed into the arms of Scott Flinders.

Dayton then came close again with another free kick that he blasted over the bar from 25 yards to mark the final effort the match.

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