Men's 2s hit eleven

Report by Scott Gibbons

Crawley came into this game brimming with confidence and hoping to make it 4 wins on the spin against bottom of the table Worthing 5’s

Crawley started quickly and always looked on the front foot. They turned pressure into goals when Dom Stowell threaded it through to Scott Gibbons, who guided it first time past the onrushing keeper.

Soon it was two with Karl Bass emphatically converting a short into the top corner. The third came soon after when Bass played a pinpoint aerial which Gibbons brought down over his shoulder and finished with a delightful touch past the keeper. Gibbons should have converted his hattrick soon after but wasted two clear opportunities. He then turned provider, feeding Man-of-the-match Liam Mulcahy who finished from a tight angle.

Worthing were pinned back in their own half, Indy Saraw and Ian Berry snuffing out attacks expertly and Simon Teale, Nick Bennett and Jack Mulcahy offering excellent outlets on the flanks. Will Doherty and Hammad Jalal were causing the Worthing midfield a world of problems; providing constant pressure that left them no option but to gift the ball back to a maroon shirt. Goalkeeper Lewis Cordingley was needed much less than last week, but did his work tidily.

Crawley didn’t let up and Gibbons did get his treble; after brilliant work by Bass on the left he was picked out in acres of space and had the composure to find the bottom corner. The first half scoring was rounded off after good work from Bennett and Stowell sent Bass through who dispatched his flick in off the inside of the post.

At half time Captain Gibbons asked for more of the same and that is exactly what he got.
Leading by example he latched onto Teale’s through ball and cooly stepped away from the final defender before placing the ball past the keeper. An eighth soon followed as Stowell set up Liam Mulcahy to fire home at the near post.

A moment of madness saw Jalal see yellow for dissent, but the maroon tide kept on coming regardless. Doherty and Bennett tireless in midfield, Stowell had a few efforts well saved and Bass blasted over an open goal. Gibbons wasn’t finished scoring yet, adding his fifth and Crawley’s ninth; receiving Stowell’s pass on the right, beating two defenders before sliding in a near post reverse sweep. Liam Mulcahy completed his deserved hattrick, firing home after defensive mix up from Gibbons’ attempted pass. The excellent Liam Mulcahy finished off the scoring getting his fourth and Crawley’s eleventh with another fine strike. There should have been one more for Crawley but skipper Gibbons saw his effort cleared off the line after side stepping the keeper and having the goal at his mercy.

The result keeps Crawley in second in the league as they prepare to visit Mid Sussex next weekend.

Crawley Squad: Gibbons, Cordingley, Berry, Saraw, Teale, Bennett, J Mulcahy, Doherty, Jalal, Bass, L Mulcahy, Stowell.