Football: Palace hit back to win in style

Crystal Palace 4 Bury

CRYSTAL PALACE overcame an early setback to inflict Bury's heaviest First Division defeat of the season at Selhurst Park last night.

Bury had already met the Eagles on two occasions in the last fortnight and got the better of them over two legs to make progress in the Worthington Cup. But they had no answer to a rampant Palace display this time, despite taking the lead through a Nicky Daws goal after just nine minutes.

Daws netted from close range after good approach work from Robert Matthews, although their jubilation did not last long as Palace roared back to level the scores four minutes later.

Nicky Rizzo played a neat ball to Paul Warhurst and the former Blackburn man made no mistake with a right-foot shot past Dean Kiely.

From that moment Palace dominated the game and Bury were forced to rely on sporadic counter-attacks to make progress.

But just before the break Bury caught out the hosts as Matthews again whipped over a low cross, which the former Palace striker Andy Preece met at the far post to tap over the line.

After the interval Palace took over completely and within three minutes were on level terms again as Bruce Dyer headed in at the far post. Two further goals midway through the second half then finished off the Shakers.

Warhurst, with space on the left, crossed for Clinton Morrison to shoot past Kiely from 15 yards after 64 minutes.

Two minutes later the Italian international Attilio Lombardo converted a penalty after Andy Woodward had tripped Dyer.

Palace could have scored more goals as Bury were run ragged and they must have been pleased to hear the final whistle.

Crystal Palace: Digby; Burton, Thomson (Curcic, 59), Rizzo, Tuttle, Linighan, Lombardo, Warhurst, Morrison (Svensson, 75), Dyer, Fan Zhiyi. Substitute not used: Del Rio.

Bury: Kiely; Woodward, Barrick, Daws, Lucketti, Redmond, Swailes, Matthews (Baldry, 67), D'Jaffo (Preece, 37), Johnrose (Avdiv, 75), Billy.

Referee: J Brandwood (Lichfield).