Colchester United

The visitors took the lead after just four minutes. Phillips was felled on the edge of the U’s area and Spaniard Campana made no mistake as he curled the ball around the wall and just inside the post.

The U's were much improved in a second period that finished 2-2, but Palace's first half dominance was enough to give them the win.

The knowledge of Kevin Phillips paid dividends for the visitors, as he scored twice to ease Palace to a 5-2 victory.
An experience Crystal Palace side had too much in the tank against a younger U's side, in a goal laden friendly fixture on Tuesday night.

Hubble had the chance of an immediate riposte a couple of minutes later but, with his free kick slightly further out, his effort was straight into the arms of Price.

Spence, who had scored a screamer in the U21s friendly v Arsenal, then stepped onto a loose ball to drill one towards goal, but Palace keeper Price was down sharply to save.

Palace were dominating the early possession, though, but the normally lethal Phillips spurned a couple of chances to extend the advantage.

They did manage to extend their lead on 21 minutes, as the U’s were pressed on the ball at the back. Phillips could have perhaps shot himself, but squared it to Kebe, who slotted home into the bottom corner.

Thomas should have extended the advantage as the U’s backed off the winger, but his driven shot swerved away from goal. 

The U’s had two chances in the last ten minutes of the half.

First O’Donoghue laid the ball to Morrison, who drove into the area and slid a cross across the six yard area that Ladapo could only poke wide.

Then the ball broke to Melaugh on the edge of the box who got a shot away despite falling, which Price got down to save.

They were finishing the half strongly but found themselves three behind on 38 minutes. They were high up the pitch when Palace hit on the counter, with Phillips breaking the offside trap to finish in trademark fashion.

Cousins was to see no further action after half time, having come off worst in a chase down for a loose ball in the box. 

Replacement Shaun Phillips’ first job was to pick the ball out of the back of the net after just 22 seconds of the second period. 

Palace kicked off and broke down the right, where the ball was squared by Kebe to O’Keefe who slotted home.

But the deficit was quickly returned to three, as the U’s got a cross in from the left by O’Donoghue and Ladapo turned the ball home athletically from close range.

Szmodics came on ten minutes into the second half, and the U’s almost got a second not long after his introduction.

A well worked move saw the ball put into the path of the onrushing Hubble, who attempted to stroke the ball home but saw Price get down well to turn it away.

Ladapo was livelier after his goal and beat two men down the right just after the hour mark, setting up Morrison who back heeled to Bean, whose shot was blocked.

The U’s had enjoyed a good spell of pressure, but they fell a further goal behind on 71 minutes. Palace hit the U’s on the counter and got Phillips in on goal. He feigned to go one way but shot back towards the near post to wrongfoot Phillips.

Not long afterwards, Williams dragged one wide from a good position, before Simmons went close to reducing the arrears when his driven shot slipped just past the far upright.

The U’s did reduce the deficit to three with twelve minutes to go, as Ladapo picked the ball up from distance and smashed one home into the top corner.

The U’s had further chances – Morrison having an effort turned behind and Price pulling off a fine save from Hubble.The visitors took the lead after just four minutes. Phillips was felled on the edge of the U’s area and Spaniard Campana made no mistake as he curled the ball around the wall and just inside the post.

Hubble had the chance of an immediate riposte a couple of minutes later but, with his free kick slightly further out, his effort was straight into the arms of Price.

Spence, who had scored a screamer in the U21s friendly v Arsenal, then stepped onto a loose ball to drill one towards goal, but Palace keeper Price was down sharply to save.

Palace were dominating the early possession, though, but the normally lethal Phillips spurned a couple of chances to extend the advantage.

They did manage to extend their lead on 21 minutes, as the U’s were pressed on the ball at the back. Phillips could have perhaps shot himself, but squared it to Kebe, who slotted home into the bottom corner.

Thomas should have extended the advantage as the U’s backed off the winger, but his driven shot swerved away from goal. 

The U’s had two chances in the last ten minutes of the half.

First O’Donoghue laid the ball to Morrison, who drove into the area and slid a cross across the six yard area that Ladapo could only poke wide.

Then the ball broke to Melaugh on the edge of the box who got a shot away despite falling, which Price got down to save.

They were finishing the half strongly but found themselves three behind on 38 minutes. They were high up the pitch when Palace hit on the counter, with Phillips breaking the offside trap to finish in trademark fashion.

Cousins was to see no further action after half time, having come off worst in a chase down for a loose ball in the box. 

Replacement Shaun Phillips’ first job was to pick the ball out of the back of the net after just 22 seconds of the second period. 

Palace kicked off and broke down the right, where the ball was squared by Kebe to O’Keefe who slotted home.

But the deficit was quickly returned to three, as the U’s got a cross in from the left by O’Donoghue and Ladapo turned the ball home athletically from close range.

Szmodics came on ten minutes into the second half, and the U’s almost got a second not long after his introduction.

A well worked move saw the ball put into the path of the onrushing Hubble, who attempted to stroke the ball home but saw Price get down well to turn it away.

Ladapo was livelier after his goal and beat two men down the right just after the hour mark, setting up Morrison who back heeled to Bean, whose shot was blocked.

The U’s had enjoyed a good spell of pressure, but they fell a further goal behind on 71 minutes. Palace hit the U’s on the counter and got Phillips in on goal. He feigned to go one way but shot back towards the near post to wrongfoot Phillips.

Not long afterwards, Williams dragged one wide from a good position, before Simmons went close to reducing the arrears when his driven shot slipped just past the far upright.

The U’s did reduce the deficit to three with twelve minutes to go, as Ladapo picked the ball up from distance and smashed one home into the top corner.

It finished 5-2 and it was a lively game for the 436 who came out to watch.

The U’s had further chances – Morrison having an effort turned behind and Price pulling off a fine save from Hubble.