FA Youth Cup Semi-Final (1st leg) - Crystal Palace 2 Blackburn Rovers 1

ROVERS' hopes of reaching the FA Youth Cup final for the first time in 38 years are still very much alive, thanks to an injury-time penalty by Luke Staton at Selhurst Park last night.

They face Palace in the second leg of the semi-finals at Ewood next Thursday, trailing by just one goal after an eventful first clash.

But Rovers were below par against a Palace side who turned in an impressive second half display.

"We can play a lot better than that," said Rovers youth development officer Jim Furnell.

"And if we play to our full potential at Ewood next week, we will have every chance of going through.

"Our passing wasn't as crisp as usual and the lads were a bit tentative. But we know what they can do now and the penalty gave us a lifeline."

Rovers started strongly with David Dunn shooting just over from 18 yards and they forced several corners in early pressure, with referee Lee Cable booking Palace midfielder Richard Kennedy.

Damien Duff saw a shot deflected off defender Hayden Mullins' knee for another corner before Palace suffered a blow, after 25 minutes, when they lost their leading scorer Clinton Morrison with an injury.

But the home team pulled themselves together and went close after 32 minutes when David Stevens got through and shot just wide of the far post with only goalkeeper Gareth Stewart to beat. Five minutes after the break, Rovers had a chance when Dunn saw his 25 yarder held by goalkeeper Gareth Ormshaw.

But the deadlock was broken after 55 minutes, when midfielder Gareth Graham crossed from the right, the Rovers defence did not clear the ball properly and it fell to centre back and captain Mullins.

He fired home from 16 yards, inside the far post, giving Stewart no chance.

Palace pressed again a minute later when Wayne Carlisle saw his low 25 yarder saved after some more fine Palace football.

But then Rovers had a string of chances, Dunn seeing his 25 yarder saved by Ormshaw and, a minute later, the same player went close when he shot just wide of the far post from 16 yards.

Dunn it was again who had the next chance after 70 minutes when Ormshaw saved at his feet at the near post.

Palace hit back and Stevens saw his diving angled header held easily by goalkeeper Stewart.

There were more late chances for Rovers, as midfielder Staton saw his fierce bending 25 yard shot well saved by Ormshaw.

And, minutes later, James Thomas could only hold his head in disbelief as Ormshaw made a great save to turn his shot round the far post. Palace increased their lead in the 89th minute when Stevens crossed from the right and Tony Folan saw his superb header leave Stewart with no chance.

But Rovers grabbed a lifeline in the second minute of injury time.

Palace substitute Jonathan Clarke was penalised and yellow carded for impeding Duff in the box and Staton sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Crystal Palace: Ormshaw, Hibburt, Carlisle, Kennedy, Woozley, Mullins, Stevens, Graham, Martin, Morrison, Folan. Subs: Kendal, Clarke (for Morrison 25 mins), Sears, Harney, Loughran.

Blackburn Rovers: Stewart, Trudgill, Richardson, Watkins, Taylor, Brown, Johnson, Staton, Thomas, Dunn, Duff. Subs: McAvoy (for Watkins 60 mins), Fitzpatrick (for Dunn 82 mins), Owler.

Attendance: 1,950

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.