Young guns up to Palace challenge

The Cherries came from behind on three occasions – and took the lead once – before honours finished even at the Eagles’ training ground in Beckenham.

Goals from Khavarn Williams, Jake Adams and Luke Pardoe (pictured), coupled with a late penalty from Brooklyn Genesini, saw the visitors hold their category two opponents.

Connell told afcb.co.uk: “It was an end-to-end game between two evenly-matched teams and a draw was probably a fair result.

“We played out from the back really well and played through them really well at times to create a lot of chances.

“I was pleased with lots of things we did in possession and we had a good rhythm to our play which meant we were able to create those chances.

“You always want to take more than the ones you score but to score four away to Crystal Palace was pleasing.

“At the same time, there was some good stuff defensively. Our front players and midfielders pressed really well high up the pitch and won back the ball a few times and forced some errors.

“We probably conceded too many chances for my liking which resulted in them scoring their goals. From our point of view, some of them were avoidable, as is the case with most goals that any team concedes.

“Overall, I thought it was a great challenges for the players which is why we endeavour to put on these games so we get tested against high-quality opposition.

“I knew we would be capable of performing well and we did. As always, we learned a lot as and I was very pleased with the performance and the day’s work.”

Connell (pictured above) was keen to single out Tarik Gidaree for special praise, the substitute coming off the bench to have a hand in two second-half goals.

“He gave us a big lift, both in and out of possession,” said Connell after Gidaree had created Cherries’ third goal for Pardoe and been fouled for Genesini’s spot-kick.

Cameron Plain was unfortunate to concede the opening goal after he had initially saved well, only to tip the ball on to the post and then see it strike him before crossing the line.

Williams, the two-goal hero of the Cherries’ win at Cheltenham on Saturday, finished a sweeping move which had started from a goal kick to restore parity five minutes later.

Although Palace regained the lead before half-time, Adams converted Pardoe’s low cross to level on the hour before the visitors edged ahead for the first time in the contest.

Pardoe was on hand to finish after Gidaree had dispossessed a defender and passed to Christian Saydee who showed great composure before teeing up his team-mate.

A quickfire double saw the Eagles go 4-3 in front before Genesini confidentially converted from the spot after Gidaree had been upended six minutes from time.

Cherries’ claims for a second penalty fell on deaf ears in the dying seconds with Saydee missing a presentable chance to win it for the visitors with the last kick of the game.

Connell’s team will face either Barnet or Cambridge United in the third round of this season’s FA Youth Cup with the Bees staging the second-round tie tomorrow.

“We’ve been trying to get as much high-quality opposition and as many midweek games as possible which isn’t always easy,” said Connell.

“Fortunately, Crystal Palace welcomed us today and were excellent hosts. We play all category three teams in our league so it’s important we try to give the boys that well-rounded experience and play different types of teams.

“When we put this game in, we didn’t know who we were playing in the FA Youth Cup so it’s just a case of preparing as well as we can and making sure the players have lots of different experiences ready for the upcoming weeks and beyond.”

Cherries: Plain, Genesini, Channell, Bertrand (Seddon, 73), Greenwood (Roberts, 73), Wadham (Burgess, 62), Gray (Murray, 62), Oliver (Gidaree, 62), Williams (Adams, 30), Saydee, Pardoe. Unused sub: Terrell (g/k).