9:50pm Friday 30th July 2010
By Graham Moody
Kieron Cadogan's second-half equaliser secured Crystal Palace a 1-1 draw with Brentford as they concluded their pre-season.
Nicky Forster had put Brentford deservedly ahead in the first half but Palace came back in the second half to earn the draw.
Palace, who started trialist Velice Sumulikoski, were second best throughout the first half and lucky to go into the break only 1-0 down.
Michael Spillane should have put Brentford ahead after quarter of an hour but put his free header from Sam Woods' corner wide.
Forster did put the home side in front after 28 minutes, thumping home after Julian Speroni could only parry Myles Weston's shot.
Sumulikoski had a near post header saved as Palace tried to respond but Weston should have doubled Brentford's lead when Speroni pushed Forster's cross straight into his path but he couldn't control.
The impressive Weston had another chance before the break as he turned Claude Davis with ease but Speroni produced a good save.
Palace almost levelled at the start of the second half when Karleigh Osbourne lobbed his own keeper but Simon Moore managed to punch the ball over the bar before Cadogan could tap home.
Darren Ambrose fired a fired a free kick inches over before Cadogan equalised, muscling his way in front of Moore to nod in Davis' header from Ambrose's corner.
Weston again caused problems when he got in behind Davis but Speroni came out to block his shot.
Wilfried Zaha, a half time substitute, added some pace to Palace's forward line and saw his cross shot after 66 minutes go inches wide.
Sam Saunders tried to surprise Speroni by shooting with a free kick from wide on the left but the keeper tipped it over as both sides.
Kevin O'Connor, Leon Legge and Moore almost gifted Palace a winner with six minutes left when they were collided but O'Connor managed to scoop the ball off the line.
Zaha then worked a brilliant chance for himself with two minutes to go but lacked composure and fired well wide.
The draw means Palace managed just one win in pre-season, 2-0 against Exeter City.
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