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Match Reports

REPORT | Crawley 2 Stanley 1

27 January 2018

Match Reports

REPORT | Crawley 2 Stanley 1

27 January 2018

Accrington Stanley's four match winning run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat away to Crawley.

Stanley started brightly but found themselves two behind at the break, Enzio Boldewijn scoring the first before creating the second, ending with what looked to be an own goal.

The Reds were handed a lifeline early in the second period when Josh Yorwerth cannoned his clearance straight into the back of Jimmy Smith, to send the ball spiralling into the net. John Coleman's side continued to probe but there was to be no second half drama this week.

The first real opening of the afternoon fell to Stanley, Liam Nolan won the ball back, before finding Billy Kee who drove at the heart of the Town defence, he squared a ball for winger Jordan Clark but his low shot couldn't beat Glenn Morris who did enough to push it behind for a corner.

Sean McConville went close again moments later, before, in the 15th minute, and against the run of play, the hosts took the lead. Mark Connolly looped a hopeful into the box, it was met by Boldewijn and his header went high towards the far corner, just creeping in between the post and the bar.

Stanley continued to control the game and create chances, Clark and Kayden Jackson combined well but the former couldn't work Morris, before more good play from Clark, who found Kee unmarked but the in-form forward could only head wide.

Almost instantly, Coleman's men were made to pay. Boldewijn led another stinging counter-attack, he pulled the ball back into the penalty area before it was turned home by a combination of Stanley defenders and the outstretched boot of Mark Randall.

The visitors responded well to the setback again as McConville forced Morris into tipping his crisply struck drive over the bar but the Reds headed into the break two goals behind for the second week running.

Stanley started the second period well but found clear goalscoring opportunities difficult to come by. But they were handed a way back into the game in the 56th minute in bizarre circumstances, as Josh Yorweth hammered a clearance straight into Jimmy Smith, before the ball diverted into his own net.

The Reds zipped the ball around with confidence following the goal but struggled to carve out shooting chances, Lewis Young and Mark Connolly worked Chapman down the other end, before Nolan forced Morris into a save with his glancing header.

With 15 minute left on the clock, Coleman sent on Offrande Zanzala and switched to a 3-4-3 formation, in search of the equaliser. But, the damage had been done and Crawley held on to take all three points at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.


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