Thomas at the double for Generals

Jul 16 2011 By Greg Burns at The Meadow

Simon Thomas

Chesham Utd 5-1 Crystal Palace XI

NEW signing Simon Thomas netted twice as Chesham United blitzed Crystal Palace XI in their opening pre-season friendly.

The Generals put in a slick, impressive display against the Eagles' teenage talents with Steve Wales also bagging a brace and triallist Sam Youngs also scoring in the 5-1 rout.

Chesham handed debuts to ex-Palace and Rotherham striker Thomas, defender Anthony Watson and midfielder Bruce Wilson at The Meadow on Friday night.

And Andy Leese's side passed the ball around superbly early throughout game as their young opponents struggled to get to grips on the game.

Thomas was foiled by the crossbar after just five minutes when he headed a John Kyriacou cross against the woodwork before a moment of magic from Wales opened the scoring.

The attacking midfielder let rip with a speculative 30-yard drive that flew past Ross Fitzimmons in the Palace goal and into the top corner.

Better was to come on 33 minutes when a flowing move, which included about 25 passes, ended with Thomas clipping the ball into the bottom corner to open his Chesham account.

Wales was not to be undone and the 27-year-old curled an equally unstoppable effort into the net to hand Leese's side a 3-0 half-time lead.

The Generals boss rung the changes in the second-half with his young-guns and triallist players given the chance to shine.

But Palace youngster William Johnson-Cole pounced on a rare defensive error at the back to pull a goal back for the Eagles 11 minutes after the interval.

Normal service was restored five minutes later when Thomas slotted in from close range before Youngs rounded off the scoring with a rasping drive 14 minutes from time to seal a 5-1 win.

It was a seamless start from Chesham who looked incredibly fit for only two week's pre-season training and played some impressive stuff.

Plus they may have found the classic number nine they have been crying out for in Thomas while Wilson played 70 minutes and shone with Watson looking assured as he played the entire 90 minutes.