Programme:
Thanks to Steve Bell for the Match Report and other new details.
Match Report by Gerald Williams: Courtesy of Steve Bell
Not even the haze that hung over Selhurst Park for Tuesday's floodlit friendly could hide from the 13,394 spectators the greatness of Raich Carter and John Charles
Silver-haired, thick now around the waist, not, of course, fit for the rigours of League football, Carter was given the opportunity to show his inherent genius, and, once he had got the feel of things, he showed enough of the old dazzle to make us feel our journey to Selhurst was well worth the trouble.
Laurie Scott, team mate of Carter in so many England elevens, told me afterwards: "In exhibition football he is still great. There's no doubt about it."
Carter was probably not very pleased with himself in the first half. But he seemed to enjoy himself afterwards and his first goal, Leeds' second, was a good one. His second was a gift; no-one moved to himwhen, unmarked,he received the ball just inside the Palace penalty area and he was allowed to move forward, select his target, and shoot.
Carter-as if he cared- lost the favour of some spectators for shouting to his players. Personally, I considered it an object lesson.
But this was a double feature programme. There was also the towering, wonderfully built John Charles to watch. Is there a better centre forward in Britain than this young Welshman? Or a better centrehalf?
Charles cruised through the game with a well-mannered almost embarrassed air. He distributed the ball magnificently - the Leeds first goal, scored by outside left Tyrer, resulted from a cross-field he almost casually cracked out to right winger Williams, hid fellow Welsh international - and he positioned himself so well for headers so that he met the ball square almost every time.
Charles was dutifully policed by Briggs. Yet he missed some chances. That he is a great sportsman he proved by jumping safely over the diving Bailey when he had a great opportunityto score late in the game.
Bailey was once again Palace's top liner. He was in luck when a Carter shot hit an upright early on, but it was obvious from the start that only the best would beat him. Two minutes from the end he foiled Carter's attempt to score a hat-trick with a flying save that Charles applauded.
Right back Choules was another to have a good game in the Palace defence. The trouble was up front, where things would not go right, particularly for Simpson, who missed several chances which if accepted, would have put Palace backinto a game they never looked like winning.
To crown everything, Willard failed with a penalty, awarded to Palace when they were three down.
