Football: HUGHES HITS THE HEIGHTS

FORMER Wimbledon star Michael Hughes put a year of misery behind him to fire Palace to the top of Division One.

Hughes was sent off on the opening day of the season. But all that was forgotten when he drilled home his 88th-minute goal to have the final word in the last chapter of the bizarre tenant v landlord saga at Selhurst Park.

Palace were inspired after the break as they came out with all guns blazing to try to overturn the lead skipper Nigel Reo-Coker had given Wimbledon.

And Palace manager Steve Kember said: "In the first half we created chances but were playing slow motion football. I told them to up the tempo and believe in themselves. In the end it was the best we have played in our four matches this season."

Matt Clarke had twice needed to act as sweeper to deny the Dons' pacey Patrick Agyemang, but it was skipper Reo-Coker who finally breached the defence.

Dean Holdsworth's perfectly weighted 33rd minute pass sent Reo- Coker sprinting clear of the Palace defence and he had ample time to slide the ball past Clarke. But it was different after the break as Palace camped out in Wimbledon's half.

Danny Butterfield, who was inspired down the right, found himself in space 25 yards from goal and unleashed a shot that gave Heald no chance. Five minutes later Palace went ahead when Jermaine Darlington tripped Tommy Black in the area and Dougie Freedman converted from the spot.

Hughes put an end to any doubts when he drilled home in the 88th minute. Dons boss Stuart Murdoch said: "They had experienced players, including a couple of our old ones, which is a bit galling but we wish them luck."

MAN OF THE MATCH DANNY BUTTERFIELD

Great second-half performance.

WIMBLEDON: Heald 7, Darlington 6, Nowland 6, Chorley 6, Leigertwood 6, Gier 6, Tapp 6, Reo-Coker 7, Gordon 6 (McAnuff 5), Holdsworth 7, Agyemang 8.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Clarke 7, Smith 6, Symons 6, Mullins 6, Powell 5 (Borrowdale 6), BUTTERFIELD 8, Watson 7, Black 7, Hughes 7, Freedman 7 (Johnson 6), Shipperley 7.

MANAGERS: Murdoch 6; Kember 8.

REFEREE: P Walton 7.

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