View From The Corner Flag – Palace Ladies

 
The latest update from the world of the Palace Ladies teams, chairman Richard Spokes reflects on the past week.

 

It was a disappointing weekend for the Crystal Palace Ladies first team this week.

In what was predicted as a tricky league game at home to Westfield, the ladies took their eye off the ball, losing 4-2. In a game that had a good chance of yielding three home points, a disappointed manager Dean Davenport reflects;

 

We just were not on it today. A few too many below standard performances and not what we expect or have become used to. Credit to Westfield, they came and did what they needed to and we just didn’t match it.

 

Asked if there were a few too many eyes on next weeks historic FA Cup match, Davenport added;

 

It could be the case, as it is a massive game in terms of a one off spotlight, but the league is our main priority and we cannot forget that.

 

Happy to put this game down to a bad day at the office, Dean and the players all know that title aspirations are still very much in their hands and that following the Portsmouth tie, the next four games are perhaps the biggest of the season.

Sadly, the frustrating weekend was capped by the loss of two players to significant injury. Talented Hannah Mayhew suffered serious ligament damage during a reserve team game and the recently returned and influential Karen Reay sustained a broken ankle and ligament damage in the match against Westfield.

These will be two massive losses for the Eagles and their run-in, with Davenport identifying a couple of impending new signings as cover. We wish both players a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing them back on the pitch soon.

Elsewhere across the club, a healthy crop of results were yielded. It was a good weekend for our U16s with a 2-1 win against a visiting Canadian team on Friday evening followed by a 6-0 win against Kingstonians in a top of the table clash on Sunday. This age group also saw our U16s Reds win resoundingly 8-0 against Wimbledon. Both teams now sit at the top of the U16s league as they head for the the last half dozen games of the season.

Looking forwards to this weekend, the ladies return to the role of underdogs against Premier League Portsmouth in the 4th round of the FA Cup.

 

The match is being played at THE CROYDON ARENA, ALBERT ROAD, SOUTH NORWOOD SE25 4QL. Kick off is at 2pm with the clubhouse and bar open from midday.

 

All support is welcome and entrance to the match is free. Please spread the word and give our players all the support they deserve.

Already further than ever before in our club history, the team are all for causing an upset ahead of the elite teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool entering the draw in the next round.

And who knows? The romance of the cup? Come on you Palace!

 

You May Also Like