CHC 2's win 3-0 against EG 3's

Report by Scott Gibbons
Crawley 2’s visited East Grinstead with a score to settle following their 17-2 destruction to the hands of EG 2’s at the start of the season.

East Grinstead started brightly and an early foray forward saw Simon Teale hit above the eye with the ball. An ensuing trip to A & E and some glue to stop the bleeding meant that Crawley needed to play the remaining 65 minutes without the luxury of a sub.

Crawley reorganised and Karl Bass’ aerials were causing havoc at the back and allowed Crawley to win a short corner. Bass’ flick was saved but Hammad Jalal’s composure allowed Scott Gibbons to turn home from close range.
James Fuller and the hard working Johnny Lewis-Brown linked well up top but EG stood firm. Gibbons almost set up Rob Payne from another Bass bomb, but the ball was just behind Payne’s run.

At half time Gibbons asked for more of the same and that’s exactly what he got. Will Doherty and Nick Bennett having outstanding games at full back; thwarting attack after attack and providing an excellent outlet too.

Crawley soon got another when Bass showed composure from a short corner and then scored again when Lewis-Brown and Fuller combined to allow the latter to fire home.

EG rallied and were it not for last ditch defending from Ian Berry, an outstanding goal line clearance from Indy Saraw and 3 top-drawer stock saves from Man-of-the-Match, Lewis Cordingley; then they may have succeeded. Instead Crawley finished strongly with Gibbons smashing one back off the post and Fuller turning wide after a mesmerising Bass dribble.

Crawley go again next week at home to Worthing 5’s.

Squad: Gibbons, Cordingley, Teale, Saraw, Berry, Bennett, Doherty, Bass, Jalal, Lewis-Brown, Fuller, Payne