CRYSTAL Palace's Development Squad got their pre-season up and running with a 4-1 win at local side Beckenham Town on Friday night.
The Eagles were set to name first team member Owen Garvan in their starting line-up, but the central midfielder injured himself in the warm-up and took no part.
Academy director and manager Gary Issott decided to give all of his squad a run out in either half, with former Portsmouth and QPR defender Sam Magri taking his place in central defence from kick-off. Magri is on trial with the Eagles for ten days.
On a lush playing surface at Eden Park Avenue, it was Beckenham who looked bright early on and they nearly took the lead when their striker was one-on-one with David Gregory, but the Palace custodian saved well.
Reise Allassani had a penalty claim waved away at the other end before Palace took control of the game and opened the scoring.
A fantastic delivery from Mandela Egbo on the right found its way to the back post, where Sullay KaiKai was on hand to head home.
And it was soon 2-0 thanks to Allassani. The youngster burst into the box with a mazy dribble and beat off a last-ditch challenge before getting enough behind his shot to beat the home keeper.
Allassani was involved again in what should have been number three when he went through the middle and had the last defender to beat.
KaiKai was steaming to his left in space, but instead he passed right to Kyle de Silva, whose effort was beaten away.
Striker Morgan Ferrier, recently signed on a short-term deal, looked a handful with his presence and strength too.
Then first team duo Jonny Williams and Hiram Boateng arrived to support the Palace team, just hours after stepping off the plane from the pre-season training camp in Austria.
Beckenham kept plugging away and they were rewarded before the break when their centre-back moved into an advanced position and lobbed Gregory from outside the box and into the top corner.
KaiKai nearly restored Palace's two-goal cushion when his free-kick bent around the Beckenham wall, but the effort went inches wide of the post.
Palace had a couple more trialists in the second half, only known as Fehmi and Fizz, as Issott rung the changes.
With dark clouds and lightning in the distance, it was the only thing keeping the crowd entertained as neither side manage to spark up further chances.
However, when the heavens opened up and the crowd ran for cover, Palace grabbed their third of the night following another good ball into the box.
And they wrapped it up soon after with a fourth when a long range effort beat Beckenham's substitute keeper into the bottom corner.
Next Friday, Palace's U21s step up their pre-season with a trip to Conference South side Havant & Waterlooville, who are managed by former Eagle, Lee Bradbury.
On Tuesday, the U18 side play at Cray Wanderers.
Palace first half: Gregory, Egbo, Magri, Croll, Martin, Sow, Dymond, Allassani, De Silva, KaiKai, Ferrier.
Palace second half: Gregory, Henry, O'Dwyer, Chambers, George, Gabsi, Sow, Black, Berkeley, Fehmi, Fizz.
