City crashed out of the FA Trophy as Crawley recorded their second cup victory of the week at a rain-lashed Milton Road.
The City starting line-up showed four changes from the eleven who took the field against Chippenham two weeks ago and, as in that game (City’s last competitive fixture), an encouraging start from the home side, despite a hard working and fully committed display, was undermined by a lack of sufficient class to see off well organised opposition.
Danny Bloomfield shone in the opening exchanges. Making life uncomfortable for Marc Pullan and Stuart Holmes he twice went down under challenge but was adjudged not to have been fouled on either occasion. The second of these incidents, coming seven minutes into the game was the most unfortunate. His turn away from Holmes to give himself a yard on the central defender was of a class rarely seen at this level and he appeared clear on goal when dispossessed.
City saw a lot of the ball going forward in the early stages but found it difficult to get behind their opponents rearguard. On ten minutes Rob Nightingale found Darren Collins with a lofted through ball. The City skipper cushioned a header into the inside left channel where an advancing Adie Hayes hit a first time cross into the far post, Matt Clements stole a yard on Ernie Cooksey but failed to make a clean connection with a stooping header.
City’s game plan appeared to be to get early balls into Collins, with Bloomfield playing just behind him. This policy met with limited success, with Adie Hayes playing fairly narrow on the left side, the Lilywhites’ only out and out striker (Collins) often found himself drifting wide to collect the ball. On sixteen minutes Tim Wooding arrowed a low cross field ball into Collins’ path, forced wide, the number nine back-heeled neatly into Hayes who shot accurately but without power straight at Andy Little.
Crawley, arriving late due to traffic problems and having completed a tough FA Cup replay victory over Tiverton in the week appeared a little slow out of the blocks. Pegged back by City early on, had they conceded during this period, the outcome of the game may well have been different, however, they hung on and on 20 minutes they were gifted the initiative by City as the home defence conceded a sloppy opening goal. Crawley worked the ball out to Mo Hankin on the left. Tim Wooding allowed him enough room to play the ball into the box, but having said that, angled in from fairly deep and heading towards goal it appeared to be a centre that should have been dealt with comfortably by the defenders. However, Nic McDonnell arriving late at the far post was surprised to see the ball pass across the six yard box and into his path, he bundled the ball past a stranded Martin Davies who was entitled to feel it should never have reached the Crawley striker.
All City’s early promise seemed to evaporate as Crawley almost doubled their lead within a minute. An aerial pass from the right wing evaded Tim Wooding, Dave Stevens took the ball down neatly, cut inside the right back and fired a low right foot shot across goal which sent Davies sprawling away to his left to save. Three minutes later Davies was again under pressure, punching clear an in-swinging free kick. City broke immediately, Wooding lofting an accurate pass to Collins who scampered down the inside left channel with Bloomfield bursting through the centre, clear on goal. Collins attempted to play him in but Holmes intercepted well and the danger was averted.
Hayes picked up an un-necessary yellow card on 25 minutes as City’s frustration came to the surface. However he offered a much more positive contribution moments later, combining with Bloomfield whose angled header was weighted perfectly for Collins allowing the former Kettering man to send a fierce dipping left foot strike narrowly over the bar.
City did look dangerous from corners. On the half hour mark Ben Judge headed behind under pressure from Collins and Hayes, whose delivery was consistently good all match, sent an inswinging centre under the bar which Little failed to hold, but the loose ball was hacked to safety.
There then followed a five minute spell during which Crawley picked up three yellow cards. Firstly Marc Pullan caught Rob Nightingale at full stretch on the half way line. Crawley were enjoying a period of dominance at this point though and a good move down the right created the space to allow the impressive Barry Moore to switch play to the left and find Mo Hankin. His accurate shot lacked power though and Davies held on. Within moments Ernie Cooksey joined Pullan in the book. In almost the same spot (as Pullan) he felled Darren Collins from behind and was predictably carded. When Dave Stevens followed him for dissent four minutes later City’s best hope appeared to be that the visitors were unlikely to finish the match with eleven players.
Where City were looking for the early ball over the top, Crawley preferred slick midfield interpassing, probing for openings and as the half wore on this looked increasingly effective. Sorely missing the combative Che Wilson City failed to impose themselves in this area allowing the visitors to control the game through Peter Fear, ably supported by Barry Moore and Mo Hankin. Before the half was out it was Moore who went close to doubling the visitors lead, having worked the ball patiently into the right hand edge of the box after City had failed to clear their lines he curled a left footed effort narrowly wide.
No changes in personnel at the interval and initially, no changes in the pattern of the game. Although, five minutes in Fear was booked for dissent and it seemed possible Crawley might surrender the game through their own indiscipline. A minute later and City’s spirits were raised, a Collins flick-header from a Hayes throw fell invitingly for Rob Nightingale whose powerful shot was deflected behind for a corner. As City upped the tempo they came close again four minutes later. This time indecision on the left of the Crawley defence was seized upon by Hayes who reacted quicker than Cooksey to fire an angled left foot shot arrowing towards the top corner of the net. Andy Little made good ground however and got a strong left hand to the drive forcing the ball behind for a corner.
City were soon to make a change, Darren Collins who had got through a lot of running was replaced by Kevin Wilkin. Whilst the City No.9 had departed from the scene his opposite number had two opportunities to put the game beyond doubt. In the aftermath of the substitution Crawley were awarded a free-kick on the left which they took quickly, City failed to react and McDonnell was clear on the left hand edge of the box, he rushed his shot however and it squirmed harmlessly wide. Minutes later he managed to get clear of Colin Vowden but again shot wide when well placed.
On 65 minutes City showed a rare glimpse of what a good passing side they have the potential to be. Wardley combined neatly with Hayes down the left. Hayes in turn fed Nightingale who played a decent ball into Bloomfield on the edge of the box. Showing great intelligence the diminutive striker laid the ball wide to Clements who struck a low shot across Little only to see the offside flag raised. Given that Bloomfield has quality that will surely see him playing football at a higher level in the future it was a shame that City couldn’t provide him with service like this more regularly.
As City pressed forward they were always vulnerable to Crawley’s incisive counter attacking. As the game entered it’s final quarter Hankin held off Steve Holden and sent a delicate chip narrowly over.
With 20 minutes to go the visitors made a double substitution, McDonnell and Stevens making way for Warren Bagnall and Danny Hockton. Within moments of coming on Bagnall raced on to a through ball which saw Marin Davies dive at his feet on the edge of the box. The ball broke loose to Bagnall but Steve Holden was able to get back and clear.
There was no questioning City’s effort. Matt Clements who was given a full 90 minutes got through his usual quota of hard running and at least gave the City attack an extra dimension although he too might feel he should have seen more of the ball. When Kevin Wilkin fed him on 77 minutes he sent a low cross skimming across the box and only the timely intervention of Stuart Holmes prevented Nightingale from connecting.
As play switched from end to end a tiring Rob Nightingale lost out to Hankin in the middle of the park. The speedy former Wycombe player closed in on goal and struck the ball low at the advancing Martin Davies. The City ‘keeper made an excellent save when it appeared the ball was going to squirm under his body. City forced a right wing corner but the ball was cleared to Hockton in the outside left position, he raced forward with the City defenders struggling to make their ground. The Crawley sub cut inside Wooding and unleashed a goalbound right foot shot, however, Davies somehow clawed the ball out of the air, his best moment of the match keeping City’s slim hopes of forcing a replay alive. As City threw caution to the wind they were wide open at the back. As the game entered it’s final five minutes Bagnall got clear down the right flank and rolled the ball across the six yard box to Hankin. With the goal at his mercy the midfielder was too heavy with his first touch and the ball trickled harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
Wardley fired a quick free kick into the edge of the box and Roger Willis was fouled whilst trying to bring the ball the ball under control. As Tim Wooding stepped up there was a sense that this was the last chance. It was a good curling effort which Little couldn’t hold but he did enough to force Danny Bloomfied to put his follow-up behind for a goal kick.
As the game entered stoppage time City still fashioned two more half chances. First Wardley, cutting in from the left curled a right footed centre into the far post but despairing lunges from both Bloomfield and Wilkin failed to connect. Then with time as good as up Wilkin fired in a low centre from the left. It looked like a routine take fir Little but the ‘keeper slipped, in the end grateful to scramble the ball behind when he could easily have diverted it into his own net.
The hard working Libihan limped off in the final minute to be replaced by Kevin Hemsley but there was no time for the substitute to get a touch before Mr George’s whistle signalled an end to City’s involvement in all of the major cup competitions for another season.
City's Manager gives his view
"We haven't had any luck today, and that has been the story of recent games with the exception of Tamworth. The plus-points have been that we were the better side and appeared to create the most chances. We had alot of good headers of the ball in the team, the likes of Collins, Willis, Holden and Vowden with Bloomfield looking to feed off the knock downs. Other than the goal they got, where alot of us switched off and let them whip in a quick free-kick, they only had a few real chances late on as we pushed up looking for an equaliser.
Darren Collins was withdrawn early because he tore a hamstring, and it stiffened up during the game.
We are dominating teams in games, but we have to take the next step and win those games. Most people that saw the game today would think we should have got something out of it, and its hard to find a reason why we didn`t. Crawley had good individual players in their team, moved the ball well, and played a system which is very difficult to play against and our pitch probably suited them as they like to get it down and play. However, to be honest, I didn`t think they were a massive threat to us, but they were a decent footballing side. We altered our system slightly at half-time in order to put them under more pressure in their half, which I think we did."
