Re: FA Cup
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:53 am
Crawley 0 Stoke 2
The dream is over until next year. This was a much more even match than the score suggests and Crawley had more possession, more corners and more shots on goal than Stoke but they didn't get the goals. Stoke's first was a penalty and the second came from a Peter Crouch header. We had two penalty calls turned down as well as them hitting their own crossbar and, in the closing minutes, a ball cleared off their goal after their keeper was beaten. The referee has been criticised by fans of both teams and Stoke's appeal against the sending-off of one of their players (Delap) has been successful - adding to claims about the referee but I'll leave that to others. The sending-off was debatable as contact was made with the ball in a fierce lunging tackle on David Hunt who later limped off and needed stitches to a 4" gash on his fractured foot. A hard tackle indeed! but this happens in football. Most of the Crowd, both Stoke and Crawley were shocked that after consultation with the 4th official Lee Probert, a straight red card was shown to Delap. A yellow would have been fairer in just about everyone's eyes.
The sending-off worked in Stoke's favour as they seemed to galvanise better as a team and became a better, more fluent side. Stoke came back into the game after an initial barrage from The Reds when Peter Crouch nearly scored an own goal only to be beaten by the woodwork! Then, in the 41st minute another controversial decision! - a penalty for them for an innocuous challenge by McFadzean. Jonathan Walters hammered it home. Half time 0-1.
The second half was more balanced with both teams having chances but Stoke got another goal in the 52nd minute when Peter Crouch rose above everybody and headed home. Barnett, Howell, Torres and Watt all had shots at goal as Crawley got a bit stronger as the half progressed. In injury time another missed penalty for us as their Collins used his elbow to clear the ball from the goal line. Full time 0-2.
Oh well fifth round of the FA Cup two years running is not bad really for a club in it's first year in the League!
Now back to reality. Focus is now 100% on winning automatic promotion to League One... or is it?
Follow my League Two pages for the remainder of the matches this season
COME ON YOU REDS!
The dream is over until next year. This was a much more even match than the score suggests and Crawley had more possession, more corners and more shots on goal than Stoke but they didn't get the goals. Stoke's first was a penalty and the second came from a Peter Crouch header. We had two penalty calls turned down as well as them hitting their own crossbar and, in the closing minutes, a ball cleared off their goal after their keeper was beaten. The referee has been criticised by fans of both teams and Stoke's appeal against the sending-off of one of their players (Delap) has been successful - adding to claims about the referee but I'll leave that to others. The sending-off was debatable as contact was made with the ball in a fierce lunging tackle on David Hunt who later limped off and needed stitches to a 4" gash on his fractured foot. A hard tackle indeed! but this happens in football. Most of the Crowd, both Stoke and Crawley were shocked that after consultation with the 4th official Lee Probert, a straight red card was shown to Delap. A yellow would have been fairer in just about everyone's eyes.
The sending-off worked in Stoke's favour as they seemed to galvanise better as a team and became a better, more fluent side. Stoke came back into the game after an initial barrage from The Reds when Peter Crouch nearly scored an own goal only to be beaten by the woodwork! Then, in the 41st minute another controversial decision! - a penalty for them for an innocuous challenge by McFadzean. Jonathan Walters hammered it home. Half time 0-1.
The second half was more balanced with both teams having chances but Stoke got another goal in the 52nd minute when Peter Crouch rose above everybody and headed home. Barnett, Howell, Torres and Watt all had shots at goal as Crawley got a bit stronger as the half progressed. In injury time another missed penalty for us as their Collins used his elbow to clear the ball from the goal line. Full time 0-2.
Oh well fifth round of the FA Cup two years running is not bad really for a club in it's first year in the League!
Now back to reality. Focus is now 100% on winning automatic promotion to League One... or is it?
Follow my League Two pages for the remainder of the matches this season
COME ON YOU REDS!