Gary's brace punishes Preston

Gary Alexander's brace sealed another fine away victory as Reds bounced back from last week's defeat at home to Portsmouth.

Preston began the brightest as John Welsh and new signing Stuart Beavon both went close.

Crawley's first notable effort came when winger, Nicky Adams saw his 25-yard strike go just wide of 'keeper Thorston Stuckmann's top right-hand corner.

Soon after, on 26 minutes, Mat Sadler's left wing cross was headed just wide by Dannie Bulman. An opportunity for a rare goal from the fans' favourite.

Akpo Sodje was booked for Preston just prior to fracas between both sets of players as Kyle McFadzean was chopped down from behind by Lilywhites skipper Nicky Wroe. Somehow the referee felt a few words would suffice rather than a straight red card.

Wroe's challenge deserved more than just a chat

Graham Westley took off David Buchanan, a straight swap for ex-Stevenage man Joel Byrom as the second half began.

Within 3 minutes of the second half resuming, the visitors had another effort as McFadzean let fly from long range. The defender's header, however, was straight at Stuckmann.

The breakthrough finally came on 54 minutes as Adams' superb deep cross from the left hand side saw Alexander, who rose above Scott Laird to send the away stand into raptures.

Alexander added to his tally four minutes later when he turned North End centre back, Shane Cansdell-Sheriff and fired into the bottom right -hand corner with the outside of his right boot.

The Reds captain had a chance to complete his hat-trick but headed tamely at Stuckmann from another Sadler cross.

Westley decided to take off danger man Jeffrey Mounakana. The former Arsenal man making way for William Hayhurst with 12 minutes of normal time remaining.

Preston snatched a goal back at the death as an in-swinging Byrom free kick found Paul Huntington lurking in the box and the big defender fired past away 'keeper Paul Jones, just before the referee added 5 extra minutes of injury time.

One final chance fell to the home side as the natives found their voice; Wroe tried to head an effort past Jones, only for the former Peterborough stopper to tip over the bar.

Two successive corners ensued but North End couldn't find a way through a resolute defence.

REDS: P.Jones, Sadler, Connolly, McFadzean, Alexander (c), Hunt, Ajose (Clarke, 79), Bulman, Adams, Cooper, M.Jones (Walsh, 87)

Reds Romp To Opening Day Win

I'd waited a long time for this day. Since I started my affiliation with Crawley Town way back in 1999, I've got to be honest, I never envisaged the Reds playing League 1 football. Today was the moment however, that the dream became reality.

The Crawley side was boosted by the news that new boss Richie Barker had made his first forays into the transfer market only yesterday; bringing in Jonathan Forte and Nicky Ajose on loan from Southampton and Peterborough United respectively.

NEW BOY: Ajose's  not had the best time at Posh

Basking in the Sussex sun, Reds started off on the back foot as, after only five minutes, Kyle McFadzean, who signed a new three-year contract with the club only yesterday, had a Mark Duffy goal-bound strike cannon off his head and with  "Fadz" falling down more like a knocked out boxer, the referee awarded a drop ball.

The first noteworthy effort of Crawley's League 1 campaign came from newly appointed captain Gary Alexander who headed a Nicky Adams cross towards Sam Slocombe's right hand post only to see the effort saved.

The next chance fell to McFadzean who leaped highest only to see his header from Adams' corner go over the bar and on top of the stand where the visiting supporters were housed.

Scunthorpe then had two quick fire efforts just minutes later as Mike Grella's tame effort trickled  into the arms of Paul Jones and Christian Ribeiro, up from right back saw his stinging effort flicked over the bar by the head of McFadzean once again.

Reds soon had another strike on target as Adams' whipped free kick was tipped over by Slocombe.

There was almost a calamitous mistake after 22 minutes as Duffy's header back to Slocombe was short and Billy Clarke nipped in only to be foiled quickly by the alert Iron 'keeper.

The impressive Hope Akpan was next to try his luck as his powerful strike went wide of Slocombe's right hand post.

The Crawley pressure finally tolled as the opening goal of the game arrived. A wicked Adams free kick was nodded down by Akpan lurking at the back post and Alexander was there to get a toe to the ball and tap it over the line for 1-0.

Alexander headed over the bar from a Mark Connolly cross and another dangerous corner from Adams was headed down and just inches wide by McFadzean at the far post.

INVOLVED: Kyle McFadzean

Scunthorpe finally had a few more efforts as midfielder Josh Walker burst into the box before squaring the ball to Bobby Grant who saw his shot hacked away by Reds' left back Mat Sadler.

A corner from Walker then found the unmarked David Mirfin lurking at the back post but the captain spurned the chance to equalise by volleying wide when he really should have scored. A sitter.

On the stroke of half time, a menacing ball in from Grant found Andy Barcham lurking at the back post but Connolly raced back to win the aerial duel and head the ball away for a corner.

The second half began drably and it took till the 60th minute for either side to actually create a chance as Josh Simpson wriggled his way through only to see Slocombe save his strike at the near post however, the midfielder also saw the linesman's flag up for offside.

The second goal of the game came two minutes later as Clarke headed back to Alexander after Connolly's diagonal ball. Alexander, just as he was about to pull the trigger, was dragged down, the referee awarding a penalty and the former Brentford striker cooly slotted home, sending Slocombe the wrong way for his second goal of the afternoon.

GOAL: Alexander (C) celebrates with Adams (L) and Clarke (Top)

Then came the introduction of Forte as the big man replaced Clarke after 73 minutes. Six minutes later, he was on the scoresheet as well; Akpan's pinpoint ball was lofted through to Forte who bravely went up to loop his header over the onrushing Slocombe, scoring against one of his former clubs and seemingly wrapping up the three points for the home side.

Scunny could have got a goal back a few minutes later as Jimmy Ryan's effort was cleared off the line by Claude Davis after a smart pull back from Grella.

Alan Knill's side missed another guilt edged chance as somehow, Walker screwed his strike wide when he really should have put the ball past Jones at the back post.

Grant had another header roll into the hands of Jones as the Iron looked to have given up hope on getting goals back.

Forte was just millimetres away from adding his second as another ball in by Adams was taken off the frontman's toes by Slocombe with just five minutes remaining.

CLOSE: Slocombe flicks the ball away from Forte

A minute later and Scunthorpe were reduced to 10 men as Duffy saw his second yellow for pulling back Red Devils' substitute Sergio Torres.

As Akpan was named Man of the Match, Ajose replaced tormentor in chief Adams for the final couple of minutes and the referee blew for full time, putting Scunthorpe out of their misery.

Some photos courtesy of www.crawleytownfc.com and www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

Gills dampen my Christmas cheer

After polishing off a few of the day before's leftovers it was the beginning of the traditional Boxing Day football.   I've got to admit, I've never really been a fan of the swish dinners and the gallons of drink and festive cheer that Christmas time brings, but instead just look forward to the mass influx of games that my team are going to undertake in a short period of time.

Anyway, after the day started so well with AFC losing to Oxford at home and my old man spotting in the front garden two magpies (Something about seeing one for sorrow and two for joy) I was looking forward to a game which saw top of the table Crawley host the play-off chasing Gills.  Hessenthaler's men naming a a couple of ex-Crawley transfer targets in their starting eleven with former Peterborough winger Chris Whelpdale lining up on the right hand side of a four man midfield and striker Danny Kedwell, an ex-Wimbledon and Grays forward that always seemed to play well against us.

Kedwell was made welcome by the home fans

Our line up looked strong even without the influential loanee Andy Drury who had returned to Ipswich following his three month loan spell; another loan ranger, this time Michael Doughty replacing Drury in a midfield diamond that saw defender Kyle McFadzean play in the defensive position, Sergio Torres and Dannie Bulman in the middle and QPR man Doughty in the attacking position.

Opposite where I was standing behind the goal, The Gills had packed out their end; 1,300 hardy souls made the short trek from Kent.

An even first eighteen minutes occured before a shambolic backpass from the usually reliable McFadzean saw Jo Kuffour take a touch only to be taken down by Claude Davis and with little hesitation referee Darren Sheldrake showed red to the Jamaican centre back.  McFadzean then was moved to centre back alongside Pablo Mills; a partnership that worked so well during the promotion winning campaign of last season.

OFF: Davis is shown red from Sheldrake

The sending off looked to fire our boys up.  David Hunt's long throw went past everyone before trickling past Ross Flitney's post and Torres also fired wide after a loose ball dropped to his feet.

The breakthrough wasn't soon after when, after winning one header, McFadzean stooped for another only to be clipped on the head by a high Matt Lawrence boot.  Penalty to Crawley and up stepped the in form Matt Tubbs to smash the ball home for his 16th goal in all competitions.  Gillingham then had a little spell straight after the goal that lasted about 3 minutes where they tried to grab themselves a quick reply however we went in at half time a man down but one goal up.

Matt Tubbs smashes home the penalty

The second half saw our visitors come flying out of the blocks and after Chris Whelpdale's ball in, Jo Kuffour sneaked in at the back post before scoring with what looked as if it hit his stomach; the ball squirming past Scott Shearer in the Crawley goal.

Whilst on the subject of Whelpdale's balls, after the game it was confirmed that, after a high challenge where David Hunt was booked, the Gills winger had split his scrotum - an injury that makes every grown man wince!

YELP-DALE!: Winger needed stitches after his unfortunate injury

Kuffour's brace was completed minutes later when, after a Crawley attack, Gillingham caught the Red Devils on the break and after Kedwell fed his strike partner (Strange considering that it’s normally Kedwell the one getting fed) the ball around thirty yards out before the on loan Bristol Rovers man ran and ran and ran at McFadzean, beat the defender before firing past Shearer at his near post from inside the box.

Kuffour has 7 goals in 11 games for the Gills

From here, Crawley huffed and puffed without really earning themselves any noteworthy chances, Mills' effort from twenty yards was comfortably saved by Flitney and, during the five minutes of added time, Gillingham outcast Luke Rooney, who boss Hesenthaler said would never play for the club again after a contract dispute , was sent off after a second booking.

One last chance then occurred for the home side; Josh Simpson's cross was headed into the corner by Tubbs only to see his effort smashed off the line by visiting defender Garry Richards.

The defeat ends our fifteen game unbeaten run as Gillingham extend their to ten

Disappointing result.  We seemed to lack width the whole game.  The diamond never worked at the start of the season before Steve Evans changed the system to the basic 4-4-2 system with wingers.  We definitely missed Drury on the left.  In the 14 games he was here we never lost - He gets recalled and we are defeated!  After the game, I read a worrying stat that Crawley last won a game on Boxing Day against Welling United ten years ago so maybe the omens weren't with us.  

However, onto the next one (As Jay-Z's song goes).  Strugglers Barnet are next to the Broadfield on Friday.  Although they have picked up in recent weeks, I'm quietly confident of a win.


Photos courtesy of www.crawleytownfc.com