2nds remain in 2nd spot with 3-1 win

Report by Scott Gibbons
Crawley braved the wet and wild weather on Saturday, playing host to Mid Sussex and looking to remain second and well clear of the chasing pack.
They started slowly, with the rear guard of Lewis Cordingley, Ian Berry, Priyesh Patel, Jay Tee Carter and Man-of-the-Match, Nick Bennett put under early pressure.
The defence held firm and soon Crawley began to play their way into the game. Andy Burton, Liam Mulcahy and Karl Bass began to dictate the play with the front three of Scott Gibbons, Rob Payne and James Fuller looking dangerous.
Crawley almost had the lead when Gibbons capitalised on a loose touch, slalomed away from a few defenders and played Fuller in, but his ferocious first-time shot was fended away at head height, by the Middies goalie.
The breakthrough did come soon after for Crawley though; a Bass short corner was stopped by a knee on the line and eventually a penalty flick was awarded. Fuller keeping his cool to convert after a lengthy delay.
He could have had a second soon after but was unfortunate to have his shot hit Payne’s body on the line; after the latter had thrown himself at an earlier ball to keep the move alive.

Substitutions saw the introduction of the industrious Matt Park and a welcome back from injury to Hammad Jalal, However, Jalal’s return was marred by a card before the break.

After the break the maroon tide swept forward once more, Fuller played the ball in, Gibbons mis-controlled, but fortunately for him, perfectly beyond the defender and into Bass’ path, who made no mistake from close range. They weren’t done there, the Mid Sussex defence conceding another penalty flick for a challenge on Fuller, who once again dispatched confidently for his second.

Middies did offer a threat going the other way, calling Cordingley into action on a few occasions. The young keeper was helped by solid defending, in particular from Bennett who had success in charging down numerous short corners and sliding a goal-bound effort heroically off of the line. Unfortunately, Crawley didn’t get the clean sheet they deserved as Mid Sussex converted from close range.

Up the other end there were chances to add gloss to the win, but Gibbons spurned one good chance and had the keeper save well with another. Possibly the moment of the game came late on from Burton. He turned back the years, unleashing silky skills to leave a trail of opposition players in his wake, much to the delight of the watching masses.

Overall, it was not a vintage Crawley performance, but a deserved win that keeps them marching on towards a second place finish and potential promotion come the end of the season.