CRYSTAL Palace continued their fine form in pre-season with a convincing 3-0 win at Gillingham this evening.
A long range effort from Dean Moxey opened the scoring in the first half while Stephen Dobbie and trialist Quincy Owusu-Abeyie wrapped up the win midway through the second period.
New signing Jose Campaña started in the middle of the park with Mile Jedinak, and Palace nearly opened the scoring after just 90 seconds when Dwight Gayle managed to nip in behind the home defence but his shot was well saved by Stuart Nelson.
And from the resulting corner, trialist Atdhe Nuhiu saw a looping header come back off the top of the crossbar.
Campaña looked bright early on and delivered a wonderful ball for Gayle soon after, who saw his downward header saved by Nelson, before the Spaniard had a long range shot spilled by the custodian.
Gayle and Kyle De Silva also saw efforts deflect past Nelson's goal, while up the other end the likes of Chris Whelpdale, Leon Legge and Danny Kedwell produced efforts for the hosts.
However, Palace took the lead after 22 minutes thanks to a stunning strike from left-back Dean Moxey.
Following an Eagles corner, the ball was cleared out the defender unmarked, and he unleashed a volley through a body of players and into the bottom corner.
Chances began to dry up at both ends afterwards, but Palace were certainly enjoying more of the possession with Jonny Williams and Campaña keeping the midfield ticking.
Manager Ian Holloway made wholesale changes at the break, with the likes of trialist Jake Nicholson joining the likes of Danny Gabbidon, Stuart O'Keefe, Stephen Dobbie and Joel Ward on the pitch.
Goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons was called into action early, forced to smother a long range shot from Whelpdale, while right-back Matt Fish hit the side netting for the hosts.
Dobbie sent a first time shot over on the hour-mark following a burst of pace from trialist Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, but the Scotsman made up for it soon after when he doubled Palace's lead with a long range effort into the bottom corner.
And it was soon three for the Eagles when Quincy chased onto a crossfield pass, capitalised on a defensive error from Fish and slotted home past Nelson.
Bolasie nearly got in the act for a fourth two minutes later when he cut in from the left and unleashed a powerful shot against the crossbar.
But the three goals were all Palace had to settle for and it sets them up nicely for Saturday's trip to Crawley Town.
Palace (first half): Speroni, Taylor, Ramage, Delaney, Moxey, De Silva, Jedinak, Campana, Williams, Gayle, Nuhiu.
Palace (second half): Fitzsimons, Ward (Sow 84), Jerome Williams, Wynter, Gabbidon, Bolasie, O'Keefe, Nicholson, Quincy, Dobbie, Wilbraham.
By Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson
