An Omari Hutchinson brace and a Cesare Casadei goal saw us go 3-1 up away from home but we could not withstand the late pressure as two goals in the final eight minutes of the game saw us surrender our lead and settle for a point.

Bar an early chance from Malcolm Ebiowei, it was our young Blues who were looking more like the unbeaten team at the start the season, as we were playing with confidence and conviction.

Hutchinson was at the root of all our good chances, putting in dangerous crosses which were causing the hosts several issues.

The former Arsenal man grabbed his first goal for his new club not too long into the first half as he latched onto a pass from Mason Burstow and finished well with his weaker foot.

There were several chances throughout the half for our lead to be doubled with Hutchinson hitting the post from a free-kick and Rankine firing over from close range.

Hutchinson grabbed his brace not long into the second half as he was quickest to the rebound after Owen Goodman made a good save from a Casadei header.

The hosts did respond and received some good fortune as a scramble in the box saw the ball fall into the path of David Omilabu who made no mistake from close range.

We scored our third though as a Lewis Hall’s shot was heavily deflected off Casadei to find the net.

There was cause for concern as Palace scored their second through David Uzoh with just under 10 minutes left in the game and the unimaginable happened as Jack Wells-Morrison scored the all important leveller for the home team.

Team news

Mark Robinson decided to start with a back four handing a first start of the season to Derrick Abu at right-back. Ben Elliott returned to the starting line-up too after his last start came in the opening weekend win over Wolves. Dylan Williams was another who came into the side for his first PL2 start this season. There was also a change in the goal as Eddie Beach replaced Ted Sharman-Lowe in the line-up.

Frantic start

It was almost a terrible start for our development squad as winger Ebiowei who has already made a first team appearance under Patrick Vieira jinked his way into the box and fired just over the bar.

The game started with a fast tempo from both sides and a lovely touch from Elliott set us on a fast counter-attack as Hutchinson exchanged passes with Rankine but leant back as his shot just inside the area flew over.

A long stoppage in play to attend to a Palace injury took the sting out of the game for a while but our young Blues were in control of the ball.

Firm lead

Hutchinson floated a delightful ball into the box which found Rankin at the back post, but a well-timed challenge snuffed out the danger.

We should have taken the lead as a cross fired across goal from Burstow found Rankine at the back post and with the goal gaping, the young winger’s first-time left-footed effort went just over. A huge let-off for the home side.

We were not to be denied however, as two minutes later Hall found Burstow who fed Hutchinson who was through on goal. The summer signing was rewarded for his fine start to the game as he drilled past Goodman in goal.

Fluid football

It was clear that Hutchinson was filled with confidence, and he almost created a wonderful goal, nimbly finding his way into the box, hurdling a few challenges before having his pass intercepted.

The young Eagles were struggling to create chances in the opening 30 minutes of the game as our development squad were combining well and threading passes through the Palace midfield.

Hutchinson almost doubled the lead as he struck a free-kick from distance which cannoned off the post and the rebound was fired back on goal by Gilchrist, but his effort dropped wide with the ball just missing the outstretched leg of Humphreys.

The game became a little bit cagey with numerous stoppages in play and some fouls which slowed down the intense nature of the game.

On the stroke of half-time, the home side worked a free-kick into the box and a towering header from Killian Phillips dropped just wide of the goal.

There was enough time for one more chance before the half-time whistle and it was Burstow who attempted an ambitious, caressed effort which had shot-stopper Goodman scrambling, however the shot just went over the bar.

Omari brace

The second half was more of the same as we continued to find the spaces that were causing issues for the hosts.

We doubled those issues for the team from south London by scoring our second and it was Hutchinson who grabbed his second. A lovely move saw Abu cross for the hanging Cesare Casadei who drew a world-class save from Goodman, but he could do nothing about the on-rushing Hutchinson who blasted into the empty net.

The home side’s first real period of sustained pressure gave them the goal they had been looking for. Gordon received the ball on the wing. Driving into the box he fired an effort which was blocked but fell fortunately into the path of Omilabu who swept home.

It was not long till we increased our advantage as we received similar fortune to the home side’s first.

A good move saw Elliott lay the ball off to Hall whose shot deflected heavily off Casadei and wrong-footing the keeper to find the net.

Individual errors

Second-half substitute Leo Castledine was looking to make his mark and he almost found the net as his driven shot only just flew wide.

A lapse in concentration almost allowed the hosts to get another goal but a last-ditch challenge from Williams diverted the volley from Gordon wide of the goal.

Crystal Palace were not to be denied however as a sloppy pass from the backline allowed Uzoh to drive into the box and slot under Beach.

This set up the game for a grand-stand finish in the final few moments of the game.

There were some nervy moments from our young Blues, and we failed to contain the hosts as they poured forward.

They levelled in stoppage time when Wells-Morrison struck a sweet volley past Beach and what seemed impossible early on happened as Palace had their third.

A heroic header off the line from Gilchrist prevented the home side from winning the game late on but that was how the game would end - an exciting 3-3 draw as the hosts preserve their unbeaten start to the season.

What this means?

We rise one place into sixth with today’s draw as a chance to jump into the top four was scuppered by the late show from the young Eagles.

With the international break imminent, we are next in action on Saturday 1 October when we entertain Leicester City at Kingsmeadow.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Eddie Beach; Derrick Abu, Alfie Gilchrist, Bashir Humphreys, Dylan Williams; Lewis Hall (Charlie Webster 77), Ben Elliott (Leo Castledine 67), Cesare Casadei; Dion Rankine, Omari Hutchinson, Mason Burstow (Jude Soonsup-Bell 90+1).

Unusedsubs: Ted Curd, Jimi Tauriainen.

Scorers: Omari Hutchinson 16, 50; Cesare Casadei 63.

Booked: Lewis Hall 23; Alfie Gilchrist 90+7.

Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Owen Goodman; Kaden Rodney, Tayo Adaramola (Ademola Ola-Adebomi 80), David Ozoh (Noah Watson 90+5), Sean Grehan, Kofi Balmer, Jack Wells-Morrison, David Omilabu, Killian Phillips (Victor Akinwale 46), John-Kymani Gordon, Malcolm Ebiowei

Unusedsubs: Laurence Shala, Fionn Mooney.

Scorers: David Omilabu 59; David Uzoh 82; Jack Wells-Morrison 90+2.

Booked: Kaden Rodney 26; Kofi Balmer 69