By El Akyereko Frimpong
Follow the writer on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial
English-born Ghanaian starlet Jacob Berkley-Agyepong played an influential role for Crystal Palace's U18 side as they ended their six match winless run with a 3-2 triumph over their Bristol City counterparts on Monday evening.
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder played an influential role in the match-winner that arrived late after Palace fought twice from behind to win the tie.
The game began slowly with little quality as the visitors were content to sit back and spoil any Eagles attacks, and perhaps due to their poor form of late the home side were a little lethargic early doors, and it came back to bite them on the half hour mark as the Robins took the lead.
Palace tried to over-play things at the back and after Oliver Pain scuffed a clearance into Will Hoare’s path, the midfielder mis-controlled the ball and allowed a City attacker to go one-on-one with Pain who made no mistake.
The Eagles nearly gave away a second soon after in similar circumstances, but after some harsh words from Ken Gillard at the interval they came out fired up for the second 45 and three minutes before the hour mark found themselves level.
A corner was swung towards the back post which was headed back across the face of goal by Michael Phillips and Oliver O’Dwyer was on hand to tap in from three yards out to score in successive games.
In the dying embers when the game appeared to be heading for stalemate, Agyepong rose to the fore, combining well with a team-mate to assist the match-winner.
He and his team-mate Hoare combined to hand Corie Andrews a chance to get down the left flank, and after beating a defender he found left back Jason Akiotu in space who finished off a fine move and clinch a well-deserved victory.