Reserves beaten

Dean Gorre’s second match in charge of Saints Reserves ended in defeat, with Crystal Palace Reserves running out 3-1 winners at Staplewood last night.

Saints fielded a strong line-up, with French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin given a run-out after missing Saturday’s impressive win over playoff chasing Preston.

Saints Reserves: Forecast, Imudia, Liptak, Lancashire, Marsh-Brown (trialist), Davies, Schneiderlin, Molyneux, Gasmi, Smith, Paterson. Subs: Pernecky, Hatch, Boyle, McNish, Dunford.

Crystal Palace Reserves: Flinders, Abnett, Adelakun, Comley, N’Diaye, Carolan, Cadogan, Smith, Pinney, Scowcroft, Dayton. Subs: Holness, Goldsmith, Roberts, Parsons.

Centre-back Olly Lancashire almost gave the hosts the lead in the 16th minute, when he glanced a header wide from a well-placed Lee Molyneux free-kick.

Romain Gasmi struck the left post with a low drive with 35 minutes gone, whilst Ryan Smith forced another low save from Scott Flinders in the Palace goal.

Despite having the better of the first half, Saints went into the break 1-0 down thanks to a close range header from Jamie Scowcroft just 4 minutes prior to half-time.

Half-Time: Saints Res 0 – 1 Crystal Palace Res

Assistant First Team Coach Gorre made one change at the interval, bringing on Jack Boyle for Kyle Davies, but the switch made little difference as Palace doubled their lead shortly after the re-start.

Kieron Cadogan rounded Tommy Forecast in the Saints goal after pouncing on a long ball from the Palace keeper. He then slotted the ball into an empty net to make it 2-0 to the visitors, with just 49 minutes played.

Despite the scoreline, Saints were still in the game and they went close on a couple of occasions, with Zoltan Liptak heading another Molyneux free-kick goalwards, but the goalkeeper managed to hold on.

The 59th minute saw Palace add another goal, as Allafane N’Diaye smashed a low shot into the bottom right corner, leaving the on-looking Forecast with no chance.

Saints introduced Tom Dunford and Callum McNish in a bid to change their fortunes, and the subs did manage to have a positive impact.

Gorre’s side managed to score a late consolation after Boyle supplied Gasmi at the far post, where he fired into the bottom right corner from 8 yards out.

Full-Time: Saints Res 1 – 3 Crystal Palace Res