Baltimore MD - Crystal Palace’s run of clean sheets may have ended last week, but the much more important win streak is still alive. Going into that game, Palace were in second place, just one point behind the only other unbeaten team in the league, the Charlotte Eagles. With Charlotte’s simultaneous loss to Richmond, the Baltimore side leapfrogged the North Carolinians and claimed the number one spot for the first time in their history after their fifth consecutive victory. Saturday night’s encounter between the top two teams in USL2 promises to be a thriller. A large crowd is expected to turn out at UMBC for the 7:00pm kickoff, not hurt by the fact that it will be “free poster night” for all fans in attendance.

Apart from being billed as the clash between the top two teams in the league, it would also have been the battle of the top two scorers. Palace’s defense will be fully aware of the threat posed by Charlotte’s Dustin Swinehart, who is number one with seven goals to his name so far. Unfortunately for Palace though, thanks to the red card he received in the 3-2 win at Western Mass last weekend, Palace’s Jamaican goal-scoring machine Gary Brooks won’t be dressing for the match. But Co-Manager Pete Medd isn’t unduly concerned about the loss of the league’s second highest scorer for this encounter. “This is why we signed the roster we did. We’ve got very capable players who just haven’t had their time yet.” Exactly how the forward line will look won’t be decided until much closer to game time. Meanwhile, the battle for who will start in goal continues between two of the top keepers in USL, Brian Rowland and Matt Nelson. Again, no decision is expected on that until just before kickoff.

On the injury front, Alex Ughiovhe is out for a second week with a knee injury, but hopes to back for the June 8th home fixture against Harrisburg. Larry Mark and Jim Cherneski are still unavailable due to their respective leg injuries but good news for Mike Lookingland, who took a heavy knock on the leg near the end of the Western Mass game, but has been passed 100% fit for this weekend’s clash.

The Palace supporters will try not to confuse the visiting Charlotte players this Saturday with their chants of “Eagles!” which also happens to be the nickname of Crystal Palace’s team.