Paddy McCarthy came through an hour of Crystal Palace Reserves' 3-1 defeat to QPR Reserves at the Harlington Training Ground.
The defeat was Palace's first this season having won eight and drawn one from their previous nine Totesport.com Combination fixtures.
A 24th minute strike by Josh Parker broke the deadlock before Rowan Vine converted a penalty ten minutes from the break after McCarthy had handled in the area, and Sam Bewick finished it off with the last kick of the game.
Wilfred Zaha pulled one back for Palace midway through the second period, while Kieron Cadogan missed a penalty a minute into the restart.
Zaha came closest for Palace in the first 45 when he managed to get in front of his marker to head a Sean Scannell cross just over the bar, and he generally looked the most dangerous threat upfront for the Eagles.
On two further occasions he picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and shot wide, while his link up play and clever runs caused the home side problems.
Cadogan also came close for the Eagles when he was afforded the space 20 yards out to fire an effort across the keeper, but he couldn't get enough swerve on it and it flew inches wide.
For the home side it proved two meaningful attacks, two goals as Palace did well restricting them to mostly half chances.
The opener was more of Palace's doing than QPR's as some sloppy play in the middle allowed the ball to be stolen and played out wide to Vine on the right wing.
The forward had enough space on the flank to look up and play a low cross to the near post where Parker managed to get across Jack Holland and squeeze it past Mann.
They extended their lead on 36 minutes when McCarthy couldn't get his hand out of the way of a flicked ball inside the area. The referee was perfectly placed to point to the spot.
Vine stepped up and sent Mann the wrong way with a low strike into the bottom corner.
Ronnie Jepson's side had the perfect opportunity to get back into the game a minute into the restart when they were awarded a penalty after Cadogan was tripped inside the area.
The forward picked himself up to take it, but was denied firstly by a brilliant save down to his right and then another fantastic save onto the bar fromt the follow up.
Some good work just outside the box then saw QPR's Balanta draw a good save from Mann, but Palace pulled one back moments later when a good cross in from the right from Scannell found Zaha at the back post and the youngster converted with a volley just outside the six yard box.
Another good save by the Rangers keeper denied Palace the equaliser when Cadogan was put through one on one. As the Palace forward bore down on his goal, the Rangers keeper came out quickly, stood up for as long as possible and smothered the shot.
On the hour mark McCarthy was replaced by Jerry Nnamani.
Balanta again looked dangerous coming in from the left, and after a couple of step overs smashed one over the bar, while Kieran Djilali rushed an effort at the other end with a 18 yard half volley that was always rising.
But the home side should have extended their lead when Parker pulled the ball back to an unmarked Balanta and the midfielder put it wide with the goal gaping.
The same man was then allowed plenty of space five minutes from time to carry the ball in from the left and fire over from 18 yards.
The win was capped off for the home side with the last kick of the game. Bewick picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired across Mann.
Paddy McCarthy has been named in the starting XI for Reserves this afternoon.
McCarthy has been out since aggravating his shoulder injury in training back in November, and lines up today in a strong Reserve side to face QPR's second string at their Harlington Training Ground.
The full team is as follows:
1. Charlie Mann, 2. Michael Abnett, 3. Matt Parsons, 4. Jack Holland, 5. Paddy McCarthy (15. Jerry Nnamani, 60), 6. Alassane N'Diaye, 7. Kieron Cadogan, 8. James Comley, 9. Wilfred Zaha (14. Joel Ledgister, 77), 10. Sean Scannell, 11. Kieran Djilali
Subs: 12. Kieron Kenlock, 16. Jack Randall, 17. Joe Goldsmith
