Folkestone 2XI 1 - CHC 1XI 1

Report by Steve Innes

After a long journey, Crawley were ready for action on a damp day in Folkestone.

The opening minutes saw Crawley pushed back by the home side but the defence of James Ortyl, Mark Brightwell, James Innes and Joe Radoux stood firm with some superb tackling.

After 10 mins Crawley took control of the game in the midfield and some slick passing from Reece Banton, Jay-Tee Carter, and Brendan MacCoalite saw some opportunities created but Crawley couldn’t quite muster the right finish or final pass. The pressure told when a forward move involving nice first time passes from Jonny Reigate and then Kieran Fuller found Steve Innes in space to turn two defenders in the area and get a shot away that the keeper saved, although Innes was quickest to reacted to slot home with a smart finish.

The second half continued in the same fashion with Crawley looking solid at the back when being put under pressure but Luke Murphy stood firm in goal with some nice saves and quick passing from the full backs led to opportunities in attack without ever testing the Folkestone keeper.

Folkestone grew into the second half and after winning the ball in midfield managed to find a spare forward at the top of the area who provided a pinpoint finish to equalise.

Folkestone took some confidence from this equaliser and put more pressure on Crawley but some good tackles from the defence and midfield, especially Reece Banton kept the score at 1-1.

After a needless yellow card Crawley had to batten down the hatches to make sure they didn’t concede and came through the tough period with 10 men unscathed.

Once back to a full compliment of players Crawley had the best two late chances to win it when Elliott Hooley-Jones and Kieran Fuller provided some nice passes forward with both Jonny Reigate and Steve Innes getting shots away and were unlucky not to grab the 3 points for Crawley on what was a tough away day.

MOM - Reece Banton
DOD - James Innes

Starting XI - Murphy, Ortyl, Brightwell, J.Innes, Radoux, MacCoalite, Reigate, Carter, Banton, Fuller, S.Innes
Sub - Hooley-Jones

Scorers - S.Innes
Cards - M. Brightwell (yellow)