Following Crystal Palace's successful trip to Baltimore the year before it was the turn of Palace USA to make the trip across the Atlantic for this exhbition match at Selhurst Park.

Below is a match report from that night when Palace were treated to a highly competitive night in which a single goal proved enough.

Crystal Palace America Tour 2009

In the second meeting between our American and English teams it was Peter Taylor's side that looked the liveliest in the first half.

With a healthy attendance of nearly 3,000 the night started early with many activities taking place around the ground to create a real family feel.

The first real chance came after six minutes when debutant Paul Dickov's shot was well saved by Brian Rowland following good work from another recent signing, Austrian Besian Idrizaj.

Palace USA passed and moved well, but ultimately couldn't find the killer pass and it was former U20 Canadian international Brian Rowland who kept them in the game as our English side peppered the Americans goal.

However, that all changed in the 28th minute when Butterfield's corner found the head of Matt Lawrence who put Palace 1-0 up with his first goal for the club.

The game ebbed and flowed until half time with Palace USA showing good work around the box but unable to provide Gary Brooks, their prolific marksman, with the opportunities to take the teams in level at the break.

During the break lucky fan Kieran Ellis, attending his first game at Selhurst won a trip for two to America next year to watch the team in action, alongside other fans who won various NFL and NBA goodies.

The USA came running out of the blocks in the second half, again passing well but failing to provide their forwards with chances to level the score.

However, it was the home side who had the opening chance of the second half with Dickov again, but the debutant could only shoot over following a good run in the 52 minute and then moments later hit the post with a fierce shot.

USA co-managers Jim Cherneski and Pete Medd pushed their men forward in hope of finding an equaliser and Jarrod Smith, the New Zealand international forward, nearly scored with his first touch in the 64th minute, but Flinders was equal to his effort and smothered well.

In the 67th minute Besian Idrizaj found himself with a free header in the box following a free-kick, but could only head over.The best chance of the match for Palace USA fell to Gary Brooks in the 77th minute but could only direct his shot into the huge frame of Scott Flinders after Tom Soares had conceded possession.

Two chances fell to Jeff Hughes in the 84th minute in quick succession when Rowland saved well from his shot following good work down the left and moments later his free-kick just shaved the post.

In the 90th minute, a right-wing cross from Paul Dickov flashed across the six-yard box to Charlie Sheringham, playing against the team he was loaned out to earlier this year, but the pace of the cross deceived him and he failed to make contact to ensure that our American side could return to Baltimore with a respectable scoreline and a lot more fans.

Teams

Palace: Flinders, Lawrence © (Cort, 45), Craig, Freedman, Idrizaj (Morrison, 74), Soares, Butterfield, Martin (Sheringham, 74), Dickov, Fonte, Hughes

Subs not used: Speroni, Hudson, Wilkinson

Palace USA: Rowland, Ughiovhe (dos Anjos, 45), Kante ©, Marshall, Harkin, Urquijo, Flores (Smith, 63), Mbuta, Alcala (Lewis, 45), Brooks, Harada

Sub not used: Moumban