Away Day Experience: Leyton Orient

This Saturday saw a rare chance for me to get to see Crawley play "in the flesh" since our 1-1 draw with Swindon Town at the start of February.

At the beginning of the season, I decided that I'd make every London away game to watch the Reds.  Leyton Orient, I believe the last of the clubs in this vicinity.

Hopping on the train from Southampton at 11am. The packed carriages meant me and two other friends had to stand the whole way to Waterloo - believe me, it wasn't a pleasant experience, with people treading on your toes, barging, pushing etc. A harrowing experience for a chubby, 5'7' man!

Anyway, we reached Waterloo, took a train to Bank and then reached darkest, deepest east London and the delightful sights that Leyton has to offer. A plus note was the pringle shaped velodrome that we could see in the distance as we walked towards the ground.

Now those who do not know me, won't understand my difficulties with trains! I'm very thankful for both Josh and Ben in showing me the way to reach the destination with plenty of time. On coming back from Aldershot, I got through my door in Southampton at 10.30pm. It was a 3pm kick off for goodness' sake, and both places are in the same county!

We reached the "Coach and Horses", a stones' throw away from the ground and I've got to say, it was very nice - an old school Nag's Head (Only Fools and Horses) feel about it. The prices weren't too bad either, considering we were in London.

The pub in all it's glory

It soon started filling up with a number of Reds fans, a few natives dotted around as well and about half an hour before kick off, we left and headed to Brisbane Road; a new ground for me and my Dad, who now has visited all but one London Football League ground; The Valley, Charlton Athletic.

It was a strange stadium; wooden seats seemed to signal the history that the place had, after all, it has been the home of Orient since 1937. However, in the four corners of the ground, were modern, swanky looking flats! It just didn't make sense. Surely things aren't that cramped in London that flats are being build inside a ground!? A decent view for the occupants though, I'd imagine.

You can see part of one flat to the left, and one in the other corner

Onto the game and, we really did dominate early doors; Billy Clarke opening the scoring with an absolute cracker after turning his man, he fired into the top corner.

A few of our fans were ejected for lighting a smoke bomb, my view is that it's slightly idiotic, however, it's only for a bit of colour/fun etc and it's not as if every week this happens (I think the last time was Accrington at home a few years ago during the Majeed era). Not that I'm condoning it due to some people's health (asthma etc) problems, but some were making it out to be the next World War. It wasn't.

It could have been more when the much-maligned Mike Jones saw his header hit the crossbar.

Second half was different though, Orient had their spells and threw everything at us, particularly in the final 15 minutes, but great defending by in particular, Joe Walsh and Mark Connolly saw a resolute performance turn into our first win since New Years Day.

Expected more from the hosts in truth, they had no real clear cut chances and the home fans were very quiet throughout. Russell Slade's side could be in for a tough next couple of months if they continue playing like they did.

It sets us up nicely for out match against Brentford tomorrow (Tuesday) night. A win against them and then Bury away on Saturday could see some momentum gained at just the right time.

The home fans quickly dispersed 

A quick KFC to celebrate the win and an un-eventful train journey back, saw me in at 8pm - a little different from the Aldershot trip!

COYRs!

Reds Tame The Lions!

In a game which could be looked upon a "warm up" for the Carling Cup game at the New Den, Crawley v Millwall has been quite a common pre-season friendly in recent times.

THE LIONS DEN: Carling Cup Venue

They have always been entertaining matches and this game was no different.

It was a special day for Crawley striker Gary Alexander who was playing against his former club.  The former Brentford man had his four children as match mascots for the day as well.

Millwall put out a very strong side; former Birmingham and Northern Ireland 'keeper Maik Taylor started between the sticks, the back four of Alan Dunne, Karleigh Osbourne, Jack Smith and new signing Scott Malone were on duty to deal with the Reds' strikeforce of Alexander and Billy Clarke. In midfield, Therry Racon made a rare start, he was joined by Josh Wright, Chris Taylor and Liam Trotter with Darius Henderson and Andy Keogh paired up front.

Ireland International Keogh started up front

The away side began the brightest and after 11 minutes had two quickfire efforts as firstly, Keogh saw his left footed volley pushed away by Crawley goalkeeper Paul Jones before a minute later, midfielder Wright saw his strike palmed out by Jones before Kyle McFadzean cleared.

Wright had another go after 15 minutes as his free kick flew just over Jones' left hand post after Clarke had fouled Keogh. 

Crawley had their first chance on 19 minutes as Alexander collected the ball on the edge of the box only to hit his left footed drive wide of the target.

Another chance fell to the Lions minutes later as Malone burst through from left back, beating two Crawley players only to slice wide of Jones' goal.

It was back at the other end of the pitch soon after as Dannie Bulman roamed forward before firing just wide of Taylor's left hand post.

Then, the opening goal did come with Bulman again involved. Picking up the ball in the centre, the Reds' talisman played a wonderful back-spinning pass in between Dunne and Osbourne. Clarke took a touch before cutting through the ball and finding the bottom corner of Taylor's far post. A wonderful finish.

Millwall went for the instant reply and home fans feared the worst as Keogh was sent through one-on-one however, Jones stood up well and clipped the ball out for a corner.

From the resultant corner, Henderson was lurking at the back post but his deft cushioned header went just wide.

That was about that as five minutes later the referee blew for half time - Crawley 1-0 up.

The second half exploded into life as three minutes after the teams returned to the field, Clarke's solo run saw him beat Dunne before being uphended in the box by Osbourne. Alexander, who scored over 20 goals during his time in south Bermondsey, stepped up, sending Taylor the wrong way as he slotted the ball to the right hand side of the net.

Alexander came back to haunt his old club

Millwall had an effort to reduce the scoreline as Chris Taylor's long range shot was tipped away by Jones a minute later.

There were cries of handball from the away side soon after as Trotter's fierce strike was charged down by Claude Davis; hitting the big Jamaican on the thigh according to the official.

The blues made changes as Liam Feeney, Shaun Batt and Scott Barron came on for Henderson, Trotter and Chris Taylor.

Batt spent time at the Broadfield last season

Crawley had the next chance as Nicky Adams' floated free kick found McFadzean who rose above his marker only to send his header over the bar.

Caretaker boss Craig Brewster rang the changes on 69 minutes as Bulman, Josh Simpson, Hope Akpan and Adams were replaced by new signing Shaun Cooper, Scott Davies, Sergio Torres and Scott Neilson.

Cooper came on to make his Reds home debut

Davies immediately had an impact when his through ball was fired just wide by captain Gary Alexander.

Two more Red Devils were rested for the final 15 minutes of the game as Davis and Clarke came off, replaced by Charlie Wassmer and John Akinde.

Akinde was causing the Kenny Jackett's defence problems as he cleared the crossbar twice in three minutes.

Barron had a chance late on when his half volley was stopper, once again by Jones who beat the midfielder's stinging effort away.

Two more efforts came later on Torres' left footed strike was tipped round by Taylor, flinging himself to the left. A Mat Sadler ball in was then headed over by Akinde.

As the referee added 3 minutes more, substitute Louis John, who came on for Sadler just moments earlier, shot inches wide of the post as the whistle blew for full time.

Some of the photos courtesy of www.crawleytownfc.com

Rampant Reds Punish Posh

It seemed ages but had come up so quickly.  I'm of course talking about my last Crawley Town game; a memorable day up in Accrington, Lancashire which saw the Reds clinch promotion to League 1, thanks to a solitary Scott Neilson goal.

Much had changed at the club since 5th May.  For one, the "new" manager had come in, and then gone. Also, players had been released and new members of the team had been recruited, a standard procedure for any club, unless you're Portsmouth.

Anyway, after having to miss the first three friendly games, I was eagerly awaiting the visit of Peterborough United, the second season in a row that Darren Ferguson (Son of Alex) had decided to bring his side to the Broadfield Stadium.

With "new" manager Sean O'Driscoll leaving the club late on Thursday night, Reds had a spot to fill on the touchline; this spot filled, once again, by the man who at the end of last season, led us to the third tier of English football, Craig Brewster.

O'Driscoll's reign didn't last long

Posh included two former Crawley stars in their matchday squad; Michael Bostwick, who came to the Reds as a 17 year-old loanee from Millwall was named on the bench, as was last season's forward Tyrone Barnett, sold to Peterbrough for a record fee of a reported £1.4m.

Also on the bench was new signings Danny Swanson and Nathaniel Knight-Percival who joined the club from Dundee United and Wrexham respectively.

Onto the game, Reds started the brighter side, Billy Clarke, after only three minutes beat his man before whipping in a dangerous ball that was hacked clear by defender Gabriel Zakuani.

Clarke was again involved as he controlled a pass from Gary Alexander only to slice his right-footed shot wide of the target.

Peterborough then had their first chance as roaming midfielder Paul Taylor tried to curl past his former Posh team mate Paul Jones, making his home debut for Crawley, only to see his bouncing effort fall straight into the gloves of the stopper.

Minutes later, Crawley found the opening goal as Alexander, wearing the captain's armband once again, picked up the ball, opened up his body and curled an effort past Bobby Olejnik and into the top left-hand corner.

Alexander scored the solitary goal

Posh went for the jugular; Tommy Rowe burst forward from his left back position, evading a number of challenges before seeing his drive flicked over by Jones.

From the resulting corner, Rowe then saw his header cleared off the line by another Reds new boy, Mat Sadler.

Another chance then came for the away side moments later as the transfer listed midfielder Grant McCann let fly only to see Jones hold on to his stinging effort.

The visitors attempted to turn the screw and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, a recent signing from Wolves, had two chances, both sent well wide of Jones' goal.

Crawley then had their own flurry of chances as the first half was coming to an end; Alexander had two more chances; firstly turning Zakuani only to see his effort curl just wide before heading a Nicky Adams' free kick at the near post into the corner only to see Olejnik beat the ball away.

Olejnik had a fine game

Claude Davis started his first pre-season game and saw his bullet header palmed away by Olejnik; the big Austrian keeping his new side in the game.

As the referee blew for half time, the sprinklers came on pre-maturely which saw one of the cameramen drenched, his laptop, possibly, in ruin!

A number of substitutes from both sides saw the once entertaining spectacle break up with not as many chances created by both teams.

Two substitutes combined as George Boyd found a way into the box before picking out Swanson lurking at the back post, only to see his toe-poked effort trickle wide of the post.

Clarke had yet another effort as his direct free kick went over the wall before being comfortably caught by former Torquay United custodian Olejnik.

Posh had a free kick of their own soon after but another sub, this time Daniel Kearns could only pummel the ball into the wall.

Reds then went up the other end of the pitch, in counter-attacking style and, despite having options around him, Alexander tried an audacious outside of the boot strike which was once again, down the throat of Olejnik.

An effort for both sides then occured late into the game as first, Boyd waltzed past two before letting fly, seeing his effort clawed away by Jones once more.

THREAT: George Boyd

Finally, former Posh ace Sergio Torres got past his man but his fizzed cross was sent high and wide by the stretching Morgan Ferrier, a trialist from Watford.

An entertaining game. Good to get back into the swing of things football-wise.

Also a nice change seeing us play some pretty football.

After the game, I conducted interviews with Peterborough winger Tommy Rowe and former Posh striker (Now at Brighton) Craig Mackail-Smith.  These interviews will be typed up on here later and (If I can find out how to do it) I will put the actual audio on here too so keep a look out!

Some photos courtesy of www.crawleytownfc.com

Rampant Reds Continue Their Fine Form

Crawley made it three wins on the trot as they comfortably beat managerless Rotherham.

Reds’ boss Steve Evans made one change from the win at Gillingham on Tuesday by bringing in Billy Clarke to replace his injured namesake Leon.

Rotherham had Darren Patterson in charge for the first time after Andy Scott’s midweek sacking.  The surprise was seeing Lewis Grabban, a Crawley transfer target in January, being left on the bench.

The game began poorly, and Crawley displayed a lump-ball technique as the Millers tried to find a way past the home side’s midfield battlers of Sergio Torres, Dannie Bulman and the impressive Hope Akpan.

The first real chance of the game came midway through the first half as Clarke tried his luck from distance after shaking off the presence of Michael Raynes and, after his strike was headed out to his strike partner Gary Alexander, the new signing from Brentford saw his curling effort beaten away from goalkeeper Rhys Taylor.

Rotherham mustered an effort of their own soon after as Mark Bradley’s dangerous cross found Gareth Evans at the back post, his downward header beat keeper Michel Kuipers but not midfielder Scott Davies who flicked the ball out for a corner.

The visitors went close again minutes later when Kieron Cadogan, on loan from Crystal Palace, picked out Alex Revell with a pinpoint ball which the former Brighton frontman volleyed onto the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

Again, Evans tested Kuipers as his bouncing free-kick went through the wall before the Crawley keeper flicked it round his left hand post.

Crawley finally got the opening goal of the game against the run of play; Clarke and Alexander played a 1-2-3-4 with each other, the final move saw the latter play a low cross into the on-rushing Clarke to poke past Taylor just four minutes before the interval – a good time to score for the home side.

TOP BILL-ING: Clarke slides home and celebrates with Alexander below

Reds grabbed their second minutes after half time as Alexander’s shot was parried out by Taylor and, with Bulman showing more desire to get to the ball than Jason Taylor, he was brought down by the Millers player. That allowed Alexander the chance to add to his Crawley goal tally and the big man confidently stepped up to sidefoot the ball past the keeper.

Gary Alexander celebrates putting his side 2-0 up

It was almost three later on when Torres saw his left footed effort flicked into the air by Rhys Taylor and Kyle McFadzean’s header was tipped over from the follow-up, as Crawley looked to make it game over.

Kyle McFadzean goes close

Grabban’s appearance from the bench appeared to galvanise Patterson’s side and it was his cross which crept along the box, with Revell just not having the pace to catch up with the ball.

The game was effectively over as the home side added a third. Davies’ in-swinging corner ended up at the back post where former Millers player and captain Pablo Mills was lurking to simply head the ball into the corner of the net.

Mills completed the scoring against his former club

Rotherham tried to hit back instantly as another dangerous Bradley ball in reached substitute Sam Hoskins, who blazed the ball well over the bar. Grabban put another testing ball into the box minutes later but Revell’s stretched effort trickled tamely into the arms of Kuipers.

In fairness to Rotherham they continued to press and late on Johnny Mullins' looping header was turned around the post by Kuipers – a chance that was ultimately the last in a comfortable win for the home side.

Another win for Crawley as we look to make a push into the automatic promotion places. I think Rotherham will be wondering how they weren’t winning at half-time but football is a game where you need to take your chances. Billy scoring at the time he did obviously helped Steve Evans’ team talk and in the end we ran out worthy winners… just.

Away to Bradford on Tuesday will be a tough game but one that, with recent form as it is, a winnable one.

NEXT UP: Valley Parade, Bradford

Photos courtesy of www.crawleytownfc.com