Total Pageviews

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Reds Brew Up A Comeback To Sting The Bees

Manager-less Crawley scored two second half goals to complete a turnaround and win at Barnet in Craig Brewster’s first game in temporary charge of the club.
Brewster is the boss
Late on Sunday night, rumours circulated of the club losing manager Steve Evans to Rotherham United where he would take the same position – rumours that were confirmed just before the coaches pulled away from the stadium at 11.45.
Arriving in Barnet at around 13.45, we joined the four coach loads and independent travellers in The Red Lion pub before making the short walk to Underhill around 45 minutes later where we were greeted with “Craig Brewster’s red and white army” bellowing out from the 500 strong away support.
The game began well for us; the ball was being played on the floor and we had scored. It’s just a shame it was ruled out for a push.
An in swinging corner from the recalled Billy Clarke found defender John Dempster at the back post who headed past Dean Brill and into the top corner, however the referee, Andy Haines, adjudged the former Kettering player had pushed his marker before hand. I wasn’t so sure!
Crawley were having the majority of possession without really doing a lot with the ball in the final third.
Against the run of play, Barnet scored; a through ball from Sam Deering found Izale McLeod. The former Crawley target’s left footed drive was pushed away by Michel Kuipers straight into the path of winger Ricky Holmes who pounced with precision to put the Bees 1-0 up.
From here on in until half time it was all Barnet with a host of chances falling to McLeod, Deering, Mark Byrne and Clovis Kamdjo who either hit high or wide or were kept out by Kuipers who made at least two top class saves within these attempts.

Kuipers then hit a host of goal kicks, admittedly helped on by a strong wind go sailing off the pitch and behind with the away fans becoming restless and showing their discontent as the referee blew for half time.
Brewster made two brave calls at half time bringing off on loan Colchester right back Lloyd James replacing him with Josh Simpson and Scott Davies entered the fray for a player that knows Underhill well; Sanchez Watt (Arsenal Reserves play their home games at Barnet).
The change instantly paid off as seven minutes after coming on, Davies’ corner found the towering Dempster, who, again was lurking at the back post, his header looping over Brill into the net, this time the goal stood.
Dempster heads in and celebrates below

It wasn't long later until the visitors made it 2; Dannie Bulman picked up the ball before passing to Davies who touched the ball forward and rifled a right footed effort straight past Brill; the powerful strike taking the slightest deflection off home defender Michael Hector to send the visiting supporters wild!
Davies lets fly and celebrates with a twist!



Lawrie Sanchez's side again had a host of chances to get the equaliser; firstly, McLeod’s angled strike was pushed clear by Kuipers and centre back Michael Hector broke out from his defensive duties to let fly straight at Kuipers.
The Bees upped the tempo and McLeod had a number of efforts to get the second goal for his side but Kuipers came in-between the striker adding to his 18 goal haul in League 2.
Late on, Torres saw red for a soft challenge on Kamdjo and, after numerous more chance falling to the home side, notably a scrambled effort from substitute Scott McGleish being hacked off the line twice by Dempster and Warren Cummings, the Reds held on for a big win in their efforts to earn an automatic promotion place.
OFF: Torres saw red
Onto the next one as we have a game against rivals AFC Wimbledon coming up on Saturday at a surely packed out Broadfield Stadium.

Photos courtesy of www.crawleytownfc.com and www.barnetfc.com


No comments:

Post a Comment