Palace Casuals

[talisman]

League Round 22, away at Ngoc Duc FC, in Ha Noi, Vietnam. Level 22, AQ -3.4
Palace Casuals travelled to Vietnam for this match against an erstwhile Championship challenger who has fallen on hard times recently. The first-half was all Casuals as striker Reda Mourad turned in a Man-of-the-Match performance, scoring from the spot after being hauled down in the box by a home defender, and deceiving the 'keeper with a rocket shot from just outside the penalty box. Just after the hour, the visitors' strike force was blunted when Mourad pulled up with an ACL tear and had to be substituted by Catalin Neagu. The rest of the match was more even, and the home side pulled a goal back with six minutes to play, but did not otherwise challenge the Casuals defence. With the three teams below falling victim to lower-table teams, Casuals now find themselves four points clear, have guaranteed promotion for next season, and the 'C' word* is starting to be whispered in the corridors...



*'Championship'...