Crystal Palace’s youngsters needed extra time to see off the challenge of Bristol City in the FA Youth Cup third round.
In a game where both sides could hardly be separated after being locked at 1-1 at half-time, and then 2-2 with 90 minutes played, Palace had Charlie Holness to thank for their progression into the fourth round.
In a tight encounter, it was the home side that made the early running, and in the 9th minute after a spell of prolonged pressure, their dominance was rewarded when striker Ibra Sekajja converted a Joe Goldsmith cross inside the 6-yard box.
Jack Randall and Wilfred Zaha then had chances to double the Eagles lead, however City responded well and forced an equaliser mid-way through the first half through Bobby Medajadoub, who curled a 25-yard effort into the top corner.
Medjadoub almost turned the game on its head in the closing stages of the half time, when first, he saw Randall clear off his own line after he had slipped the ball beyond Keeper Charlie Mann, and then two minutes later, he saw a very well driven shot fizz past the post with Mann beaten.
The second half began with both sides visibly cautious about giving away an early goal and it took until the 57th minute for the first chance to be recorded when City skipper Dan Ball miscued an opportunity to put the visitors ahead.
The miss was compounded 3 minutes later when Palace once again went ahead, Alex Wynter sending a spectacular left-footed strike into the net from 25-yards.
With Palace now in the ascendency City keeper Tom Bradley had to be at his best to keep out Randall and Sekajja and his heroics set the stage for City to force another equaliser with Ryan Brunt coolly converting from the spot when City looked to be on their way out.
In a compelling tie the game was decided during the first period of extra time when midfielder, Holness, dispatched a stunning effort from 18-yards out, beyond the diving Bradley.
