2's hit seven again

Report by Scott Gibbons
Crawley arrived at a cold, dark Eastbourne for a 4:30 hoping to consolidate second place in the league.

Crawley started like a bat out of hell, on the front foot from the first whistle. Will Doherty and Karl Bass controlling their middle of the pitch and JT Carter and man-of-the-match Hammad Jalal offering excellent outlets from the wings. The deadlock was broken when Liam Mulcahy found some space and expertly found Carter in the D. Carter remained composed and picked his spot beyond the keeper.

Their lead was doubled soon after, Bass picking out the influential Mulcahy who slipped the ball through the keeper’s legs.

Eastbourne found their feet and threatened to score, but Ian Berry, Indy Saraw and Keeper Lewis Cordingley were as strong as Oxen and performed some heroic, last-ditch defending. Jonny Rowtcliff and Nick Bennett both impressed from full-back, marauding like wildebeest in the wide areas and defending manfully at the back.

At half time skipper, Scott Gibbons urged his team to come out hard and put the game to bed. The boys in red responded perfectly and were hungry as wolves for more goals. Mulcahy’s effort saved by the keeper, but Gibbons able to swoop in and score from less than a yard.

Eastbourne hit back, with a bobbling effort finding the corner for 3-1. However, any thoughts of a comeback were firmly dispelled with a moment of Gibbons magic. Electing to pull the trigger instead of making the pass; his venomous effort had too much power for the keeper, finding the top corner despite a solid hand from the man between the sticks.

The goals seemed to be multiplying like rabbits, Carter grabbing his second; firing past the keeper after a slick exchange with Mulcahy. That man Mulcahy was involved again soon after, feeding Gibbons who picked out the onrushing Doherty to turn home a reverse stick effort. The boys in maroon fired seven for the second time in as many weeks when Mulcahy’s mazy dribble freed Gibbons who converted his hat-trick from close range.

Crawley can be proud as peacocks after this win, giving themselves a five point cushion back to the team in third place and with a rearranged game in hand to come too. They take on a dogged Worthing team next time out with the P word beginning to form on the lips of some.