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Re: League Two

Postby steveizy » Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:33 pm

AFC Wimbledon 2 - Crawley 5

Wonderful result in the Kingston, fairly near Wimbledon, sunshine yesterday and far above expectations. Most fans of both persuasions would have settled for a draw in this important local derby.

We took the coach from The Half-Moon again for the short journey. Nice crowd, who as before, made us very welcome :thumbsup

The Kingsmeadow stadium which AFC share with Kingstonian FC is, to be kind, a bit of a dump and the view for the visitors and some of the home fans is very limited.

The game itself was a classic and made up for the poor view. Thrilling opening with Crawley ahead after 3 minutes when their defender Bush failed to clear an Andy Drury corner and instead sliced it into his own net. Andy Drury sent another corner in that Claude Davis headed in powerfully in the 9th minute! 0-2 inside ten minutes but then Crawley seemed to ease off a bit and allowed an AFC comeback.

Firstly Claude managed to cancel out his goal, by scoring an own goal in the 11th minute - poor Claude! Then just before half time, Midson equalised for the Plastics in the 44th minute. 2-2 HT and we had squandered a potential match winning position. What would the second half bring?

The most noticeable difference was the absence of Steve Evans in the dugout. It turned out that he had been sent to the stands by the Referee after a flare-up at half time :censored On the pitch, Torres (who had been yellow carded) and Hunt were replaced by Nielson and Akpan in the 51st minute and these changes seemed to be a shot in the arm for Crawley. In the 54th minute the Plastics conceded a penalty after a handball in the area. Matt Tubbs coolly hammered it home for his eighth league goal :applause

After that it was more or less all Crawley - we weren't going to let a winning lead slip away again and we didn't :lol: A brace for "Man of the match" Dannie Bulman in the 59th and 84th minutes, both headers, sealed the match nicely for The Reds. A fantastic second half... more of the same please lads :applause

Along with the drama of Steve Evans being sent to the stands, it seems that our board has fallen out with the BBC over allowing interviews before or after the match and this meant the coverage was a bit one-sided in AFC's favour on the Football League Show. Relationships between the fans and the BBC have recently been at an all time low over Crawley coverage or lack of and the BBC threw its toys out of the pram on our forum recently and said that they would no longer contribute after they received a drubbing over their unfair and biased coverage :neernerneener Now it seems that our board are fed-up with the BBC too :rotfl

BBC or no BBC, it was the result that counted and the win sees us still two points clear at the top and the GD of three helps recover some that was lost against Morecambe and Swindon.

Next up is against Dagenham and Redbridge who came down from League 1 last season but aren't doing that well in League 2. Fourth from bottom and with a heavy defeat to Aldershot 2-5 at home yesterday - they seem ripe to give us the 3 points at The Broadfield this Tuesday but things are not always that straightforward in football...
:scarf :scarf :crawleyscarf COME ON YOU REDS! :scarf :reddevils :youreds

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Re: League Two

Postby steveizy » Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:09 pm

Sorry folks - been a bit lazy recently.

Three pretty uninspiring games to report: I'll start with yesterday's game which was a bit less uninspiring than the other two :indifferent

Hereford 1 - Crawley 1

I took the coach again for the long journey to see The Reds play The Bulls at Edgar Street Hereford. Great trip around 4 hours each way, with stops. Carol couldn't make it this time unfortunately. Edgar Street is a pretty dated stadium and parts of it are now unused and partly derelict. Sad and a reminder to me of how lucky we are to have a modern stadium here in Crawley. The only real problem at The Broadfield is its size being below Football League requirements, but that is, hopefully going to change soon as planning permission has been applied to increase the capacity and facilities at The Broadfield. See http://www.crawleytownfc.com/page/Lates ... 15,00.html for more info.

Anyway, I digress so back to the Football!

Crawley started this match as favourites and from the whistle were the better side... until a calamitous mistake from Shearer passing to a defender who also made a mistake was intercepted and converted into a goal by their Tom Barkhuizen with a low shot that left Shearer helpless.

We pushed and pushed and they tried to bolt down the hatches until Andy Drury managed to put us level just before half time.

Crawley should have scored three or more times in the second half but didn't. Lady Luck has turned her back on us for the moment. The balance of play was almost entirely Crawley ... we had loads of chances but, again, lacked the killer touch... same old story recently.

The score remained level until time. We are now second in League Two, behind Southend and two points behind them. Not bad for a team just starting in the League!... but could be better!

Crawley 1 Accrington Stanley 1 Gave away early goal (41) which led us to chase the game and fortunately got the equaliser when Hope Akpan gave us hope in the 78th minute but we couldn't do it.

Crawley 3 Dagenham 1

This was our last win and even that had a scare when we fell behind against the run of play after 9 minutes. We came back from behind and secured a nice three points :applause

I hope that this is not seen as a moan - more like seeing a team not really living up to its potential. We have a team that is feared throughout our division but who are slipping up mainly from avoidable mistakes. I'm not naming names - the whole team needs to address this issue. We are doing well, very well, for a newly promoted side and I think any fan would have taken our present position after 17 games with glee and that includes me!

Enough negativism. :yes

Our next match is in the FA Cup away to Bury. Bury are a division above us in League 1 doing OK in lower part of the table. This is a match we can win and if we find our form could win easily. I'm booked on the coach this long trip :-D

Win or lose, this is going to be a good day out!
:crawleyscarf :crawleyscarf COME ON YOU REDS! :crawleyscarf :crawleyscarf

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FA Cup

Postby steveizy » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:29 am

Bury 0 Crawley Town 2

What a wonderful day out :banana

I took the coach from The Half Moon departure 07:30 for the long drive up North to Bury which is part of greater Manchester. The reason for the very early departure was so that we could enjoy a nice long break at a pub en route. We stopped at a delightful ancient pub with thatched roof and low wooden beams - not normally my scene but this pub was great and very welcoming. We even bumped into a regular there who used to live in Gossops Green - small world! They laid on a nice buffet for us. If you are ever in South Cheshire, I thoroughly recommend The White Lion near Alsager!
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Suitably refreshed and nourished, we proceeded to Bury. Gigg Lane is an old stadium but has been modernised internally quite a bit over the years. A nice place, friendly fans and laid back stewarding all helped create a great atmosphere.
20111112_144016.jpg


Onto the football! Bury are League 1, we are League 2 and after our recent indifferent results, I and most fans would have been happy to take a draw and subsequent replay at home. Our pessimism, if that is the right word, was misplaced!

After an initial scare we dominated particularly in midfield where we totally outclassed them and gave them very little. A thrilling but goalless first half. The second was much of the same until the breakthrough in the 49th minute when Tyrone Barnett headed home an Andy Drury corner. Great header :applause We eased off a bit as they fought hard to get one back including a great double save by Shearer but their offensive didn't last too long and we once again took control. Crawley could have scored two or three more had it not been for their gritty defence. With eight minutes to go Michael Doughty converted our fragile one goal lead into a safe 2 goals with a great shot. Every one of us 198 travelling supporters went wild :blob8

Shortly before time, their Mark Hughes was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Doughty who nearly scored again before the final whistle.

Back on board the coach for the long journey home with only one stop at Warwick services where we chatted to Oxford Utd supporters coming back from their 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United (we play Oxford Utd next week at Broadfield in the league). All very friendly! Straight back to The Half Moon then and I got home at exactly 22:30 having left home at 06.30. A long day but worth every minute :thumbsup

Later today the draw takes place for the second round... part of me wants an "easy" side at home at Broadfield and part of me would like an away at a big club. Hopefully part of me will be pleased!

Well done lads - great performance :applause

:crawleyscarf :crawleyscarf COME ON YOU REDS! :mexican :scarf

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Re: FA Cup

Postby steveizy » Sun Nov 13, 2011 5:00 pm

Well we are at home to either Oxford City or Redbridge (not to be confused with Dagenham and Redbridge though from the same area).

Oxford City play in the Southern Premier League which is level 7 in the football pyramid of England and Redbridge play in the Isthmian League Division 1 North, level 8. Crawley are ,of course, level 4.

So it looks like my wish for an easy tie has been granted but we will have to watch out for the proverbial banana skin of a giant-killing performance on our own turf. Don't forget that this is just what Crawley did last season with the epic wins over Swindon who were League 1, Championship Derby County and Torquay and very nearly the ultimate giant killing act of all when we lost narrowly to Man Utd at Old Trafford! Now we are the giants :o This is the magic of the FA Cup :P

Both teams are in reasonable travelling distance of Crawley and I imagine either will bring a healthy sized following to Broadfield for their big day. All bodes well for a good atmosphere and hopefully no upset for us!

The match will take place on the weekend of 3-4th December. Final details T.B.A.

:crawleyscarf :crawleyscarf COME ON YOU REDS! :scarf :scarf :cheers

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Re: League Two

Postby steveizy » Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:50 am

Crawley town 4 - Oxford United 1

Just over 4,000 people turned up for this match including 1074 from Oxford. Good atmosphere all round :applause

Great result as Crawley continued where they left off last week at Bury! The unchanged team completely outplayed Oxford.

Two goals from Tyrone Barnett in the first quarter of an hour saw The Reds in control. That was until the half-hour mark when a dreadful defensive mix-up, against the run of play, saw Shearer 'mugged' by their Constable for an easy tap in. That goal really was the most dangerous Oxford were in the whole match. Deep in injury time, Drury drove a low shot past their keeper to put us 3-1 at Half Time.

The second half was all Crawley and there could easily three or four more goals but only one of the chances was converted when 'Deano' struck a beautiful free kick - low and hard past their wall, leaving their keeper stranded. 4 -1 .

This win sees Crawley stay in second place in the table, two points behind Southend who just managed to take the points in the derby with Dagenham and Redbridge. D&R 2 - Southend 3. Below Crawley there is a four point gap with Cheltenham in third place.

Next up is away at Rotherham. We're both booked on the coach for this one and looking forward to the long day out and hopefully three points :P Next at Broadfield is on Saturday 3rd December in the FA Cup when we will play either Oxford City or Redbridge. We will know who after their replay this Tuesday.
:crawleyscarf :crawleyscarf COME ON YOU REDS! :crawleyscarf :crawleyscarf

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Re: League Two

Postby steveizy » Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:03 pm

Rotherham 1 Crawley Town 2

Another great day out and coming back with the points, rather luckily, as well as seeing us erode the lead that Southend had at the top of the table to just goal difference!

We departed the Half Moon in Southgate at 8:00AM after a rather tasty bacon and sausage baguette for another long drive 'up north'. After a brief stop at motorway services, mainly to change drivers (coach drivers - like other professional drivers of large vehicles and pilots of aeroplanes have limited hours that they are allowed without rest breaks) we proceeded to the Cross Keys in Castle Donington for a buffet and a few pints. Another lovely old pub that has a bit of a tradition for hosting sports followers - there was a local rugby club coming for a hog roast in their car park later as well as a football team visiting for a curry. Andy & Donna the landlords are busy people and despite being Derby County supporters they hold no grudge for us 'giant-killing' their team in the FA Cup last season :lol: Despite being the barmy army, we like our culture too and as it happens there is a piano shop next to the pub. Carolizy' just had to tinkle the ivories with an impromptu rendition of the Maple Leaf Rag on a lovely Yamaha piano that was for sale. Thanks to the owner for being so accommodating to a bunch of football supporters who invaded his shop!

20111126_112153.jpg


Suitably watered and nourished, we went on to Rotherham (or more accurately Sheffield) to the magnificent 'Don Valley' stadium, Rotherham's temporary home, whilst a new plush stadium is being built in the heart of Rotherham itself. Huge place, very impressive, but not a football stadium!

Athletics stadiums are not really suited to hosting football as the closeness to the game is lost. The running track just puts you too far back from the action and with three quarters of this awesome place unused it means that the fans of both persuasions are seated along one side. This does tend to reduce the atmosphere, but the travelling 'barmy' army - all 191 of us from Crawley - did make a lot of noise :applause

The game itself we were lucky to win or even draw. First half we looked like a village football team, inept hoofers and lacking everywhere. Not the Crawley that knocked Bury out of the FA Cup and beat Oxford United recently. Nowhere near alas :indifferent

The inevitable happened of course. Brett Williams got a goal for Rotherham on 20 minutes after a defensive cock-up and we were one down. They had previously had a goal disallowed and one or two good chances so, fair dues, they did deserve to be ahead. Miraculously we held them to that one goal until half time. :scratch

Once or twice I've suggested that a Steve Evans team talk at half time might be a bit 'robust' and unprintable when the team are trailing like that. Today was no exception, but whatever he did say once again had the desired effect [47_47.gif] :lol:

Best to leave it to Steve to explain:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 648663.stm in somewhat moderated language... :notworthy

The second half, after the team chat, was much better. Our players came out blazing and put them under pressure straight away. We were in control. Four minutes in and we were equal from a powerful Tyrone Barnett drive :applause

We didn't stop there... twenty minutes later, substitute John Paul Pittman on for Matt Tubbs sent a beautiful cross in from near the corner for Josh Simpson to shoot. The shot rebounded back from the post to Josh, who made no mistake this time and smacked it home :applause

Kept them under pressure and once or twice broke into "Barcelona" mode with nice passes to keep possession and burn time away!

The result flattered us but so be it... another three points to bring us level on points with Southend who only managed to get a 1-1 draw at home against Bristol Rovers, now only trailing them on goal difference at the top of League 2.

Next up is our FA Cup 2nd round clash with minnows Redbridge, who will be desperate for a scalp and progress to the next (3rd) round. We should beat them comfortably but will have to watch out for the fact that as a club, this is their biggest fixture ever and they will be fired up for their big day. The match takes place next Saturday 3 December at Broadfield.
:crawleyscarf :crawleyscarf COME ON YOU REDS! :crawleyscarf :crawleyscarf
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Re: League Two

Postby Nevis » Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:49 pm

Well done. You have the most views on the site. [0.14..MZAWF.png] :applause :applause :applause :applause :applause :applause :-D :scarf

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