THREE giveaway goals might have handed victory to Palace. But don't think the Division One side didn't deserve the victory.

And Bury would do well to remember the advanced quality of last night's opponents - because that's what they're hoping to come up against every week next season.

While the Shakers gave a decent account of themselves, Dave Bassett's men were slicker and quicker in every department.

Chances were few and far between as Bury struggled to break down a rock solid defence and Palace made them pay for their mistakes.

"You can't legislate for daft mistakes like that," reflected Michael Jackson who provided Bury's one high point with a headed equaliser from Dean West's 10th minute free kick, 60 seconds after Marc Edworthy had put the visitors ahead.

That opening goal was a sign of things to come as first Mark Carter lost the ball just inside his own half and then Nick Daws got it stuck between his feet as he tried to clear with Edworthy homing in.

"We haven't had many chances and they took theirs well. That may be the difference between the divisions," added Jackson. "Maybe in our division and the division we were in last season you can get away with poor mistakes. But in the higher division you get punished for them."

Bury were never allowed to get into their stride and there was no way back after the defence failed to handle an Andy Roberts cross and David Hopkin nipped between defender and keeper to slot the ball into the top corner after 15 minutes.

Palace almost extended their lead when Hopkin's 20-yard rocket tested Dean Kiely's reflexes to the limit just before the interval and the keeper again came to the rescue when a typically swift Palace break provided Ray Houghton with a one-on-one midway through the second half.

Brave Bury threw on Phil Stant and Rob Matthews in a late bid to break down Palace with four centre forwards but the ploy backfired when they got caught at the back and Dougie Freedman and Houghton handed Hopkin a simple chance to put the tie almost certainly beyond the Shakers' reach in the final seconds.

"It was a bit kamikaze at the end when the players let their hearts ruled their heads," said Bury boss Stan Ternent.

"All the goals were self-inflicted."

Kiely 6, West 6, Armstrong 7, Daws 6, Butler 6,

JACKSON 7, Hughes 7, Johnson 6, Jepson 6, Johnrose 6, Carter 6. Subs: Stant (for Johnrose 75 mins), Matthews (for Johnson 79 mins) and Reid (N). Att: 3,472.

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