Football: Armstrong sparkles for Palace

Wimbledon 0 Crystal Palace 1 The landlords of Selhurst Park threw out their lodgers last night and reserved themselves a place in the fourth round of the Coca-Cola Cup after a tie which was on the boil and in the balance when Chris Armstrong scored the winner for Crystal Palace 17 minutes from time.

If anyone was destined to decide this game it had to be the dynamic Palace striker, who increasingly had begun to demoralise Wimbledon with his fearsome pace. Momentarily abandoning the right flank, where much of his best work was done, Armstrong positioned himself at the far post and was nicely in place to turn home Gareth Southgate's powerfully driven cross.

Only twice before this season had this much-vaunted finisher found his way on to the scoresheet, but not for a moment should that be taken as a sign of his lack of productivity. Always involved here and always lively, Armstrong was a constant threat to Andy Thorn, in only his second full game back at Wimbledon. Thorn, still feeling his way after serious injury, would not have chosen to run into his old mates from the training pitch so soon.

The memory of the League meeting between the sides who share the same home was all too horribly fresh to encourage thoughts that we were in for a classic encounter. That match had finished goalless and devoid of any charm, but the way both attacks set about their task seemed to suggest that this time they could turn the tables.

Initially, Palace preferred to shoot when they came anywhere near sight of goal. Wimbledon, having conceded three in each of their last three outings, knew their best chance of victory lay in taking the game to their opponents and pushing men forward in support.

In that regard, Warren Barton was crucial to their efforts and after only 10 minutes he cleverly set up Andy Clarke, who had more time than he thought and hurried his shot wide. Soon after, the enigmatic winger was presented with an easier opportunity - this time he dallied too long and Nigel Martyn was able to save.

So it was the side hampered by injury and who had been beaten in each of their four previous games who first hinted at progress. Yet, gradually, Palace's momentum began to carry the greater conviction. They had to be patient and wait for their openings - Dean Gordon finishing poorly after a swift exchange with Armstrong - and it took a splendid stop from their goalkeeper seven minutes into the second half to persuade them that this was to be their night.

When Gary Blissett stole round the back to meet Vinnie Jones's long throw Martyn plunged down to his line to keep the ball out. John Salako came close with an overhead kick and Hans Segers lived dangerously as he, Armstrong and Andy Preece all sought the decisive touch as the ball flew back and forth across the goalmouth.

The game's outstanding contributor went to work with a vengeance. Palace enjoyed that and could laugh off the choice of Clarke as the sponsors' man of the match.

Alan Smith, the Crystal Palace manager, insisted that Armstrong was not for sale at any price. 'My job is hard enough without selling my best players,' Smith said. 'There is no way I'd sell him.'

Smith admitted that Armstrong's lean run had begun to affect him. 'It did get Chris down a bit but he gives us a lot even without goals. This will do him a lot of good. On the day Wimbledon didn't have a great player, but we had Chris Armstrong.'

Wimbledon (4-4-2): Segers; Barton, Fitzgerald (Harford, 84), Thorn, Elkins; Ardley, Joseph, Jones, Gayle (Fear, 70); Blissett, Clarke. Substitute not used: Sullivan (gk).

Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Martyn; Humphrey, Shaw, Coleman, Gordon; Bowry, Southgate, Newman, Salako; Armstrong, Preece. Substitutes not used: Pitcher, Dyer, Wilmot (gk).

Referee: R Gifford (Mid-Glamorgan).