This corner of Sussex
avoided the worst of the Christmas weather and a large
crowd turned out at Priory Lane to see The Sports take
on Steve Evans's Crawley Town.
Unfortunately for the large home following Boro found
themselves behind early on as Danny Knowles saved low
from Michael Malcolm only for Charlie Ademeno to fire
low into the bottom corner for 1-0.
The early setback inspired
the home side and for the next 20 minutes the home side
had their best spell. On 9 minutes Jamie Taylor's flick
at near post was saved by Simon Rayner and his cross from
right was but beyond his team mates making their way into
the 6 yard box. Neil Jenkins crossed from the left but
Taylor was just short of connecting and inside 20 minutes
Matt Crabb shot inches wide after a great cross by Simon
Johnson before he drew a save from Rayner from 25 yards
plus.
Crawley fought their way
back into the game and Ben Smith fired over after 25 minutes
before Glenn Wilson finished from close range after a
right-wing corner for
2-0.
Liam Enver-Marum was just
short of pulling a goal back for The Sports after a brilliant
Jenkins left wide cross. The No 10. touched the ball goal
ward but Rayner tipped the ball over to keep his side
2 in front.
In the 2nd 45 Crawley
were again rewarded for committed defending as a goal-mouth
scramble was cleared.61 - LEM turn
and shot block for corner.
Enver-Marum had a shot blocked on the
hour and a 1st time 'lob' from Taylor was not high enough
to beat the retreating Rayner after 68 minutes. Ademeno
tested Knowles with 12 minutes to go and the Red Devils
No. 8 and Smith both struck the woodwork as the game drew
to a close. Paul Armstrong delivered 2 late free-kicks
into the area 18 yard box but it was not to be - Crawley's
strong defence around the half-time break keeping themselves
in front.
Words : Lee Peskett
Images : David Bauckham
