City’s seven match unbeaten run came to a grinding halt at the hands of a classy Crawley side who completed the double over the Lilywhites, this resounding victory for the Reds coming five weeks after their 2-0 triumph at the Broadfield Stadium.

City showed two changes from the side that started Saturday’s game against Chelmsford. Matt Rice, recovered from illness, replaced James Quilter in the centre of defence and Jamie Godbold, who came off the bench on Saturday, was preferred to Stuart Niven.

Having displayed a tendency to open slowly in recent weeks, City were obviously acutely aware of the scale of the task facing them and made a bright start moving the ball accurately to feet in the middle of the park but without ever threatening Andy Little in the visitors’ goal.

However, if this looked like a tough proposition at 7.45, it got a whole lot more difficult at 7.50. As Crawley advanced down the left Craig Pope’s untidy challenge on Justin Gregory resulted in an inevitable free kick. Mo Harkin came across from the right to take it and the former Nuneaton midfielder curled a shot just inside Alan Calton’s left hand upright forcing the City custodian to palm the ball behind for a corner. This time Harkin’s delivery found central defender Kevin Hemsley who was allowed to rise unchallenged on the six yard line and power a header into the back of the net.

To their credit City came back at the visitors and persisted with their passing game but with Hemsley and Marc Pullan commanding in central defence and full backs Ben Judge and Ian Payne keeping the Lilywhites’ wide men in check, Andy Little experienced a quiet opening period.

With 17 minutes on the clock City nearly got the breakthrough that may have changed the course of events. Lewis Baillie’s drilled clearance caught the Crawley back four on the turn. Seizing on this rare opportunity Danny Bloomfield sped through the inside right channel, leaving Pullan in his wake. In an attempt to avert the danger Little raced to the edge of his area, having held off long enough to commit the ‘keeper Bloomfield then unleashed a dipping drive from some 20 yards only to see it bounce off the top of the crossbar and away to safety.

As the half wore on Crawley’s strike force began to have an increasing influence on proceedings. With a quarter of the game gone Lee Pluck needed all his pace and strength to hold off Nigel Brake wide on the right. Having seen off the initial threat the City skipper laid the ball back inside to Alan Calton only for Carl Wilson-Denis to intercept and take the ball wide of the ‘keeper who recovered superbly to beat the ball away to his right and behind for a corner.

With City still probing for an equaliser Jamie Godbold’s persistence won a corner on the right which Rob Miller angled into the far post. Matt Rice rose highest but under a robust challenge from Pullan could only head over the bar.

Crawley thought they had extended their lead with half an hour gone, a slick exchange of passes between Judge and Harkin wide on the right saw the former Croydon right back drive in a low cross which Brake converted with a diving header, only to be adjudged offside.

As the game switched from end to end Louis Riddle held off Judge and flighted in an inviting centre for Bloomfield. Doing very well to get the better of Pullan, City’s top scorer looped a header goalwards forcing a back-pedalling Little to palm the ball over the bar for a corner.

However just as City looked like they might find a way back into the game they conceded a critical second goal after 35 minutes. Under pressure from Gregory, Godbold was forced to concede a corner on the right. Harkin was again the taker but he appeared to have curled the ball straight into the arms of Calton. Unfortunately for City’s teenage ‘keeper the ball squirmed from his grasp. Matt Rice’s lashed clearance fell fortuitously at the feet of Hemsley and he gratefully rammed the ball home through a crowded goalmouth.

As the half drew to a close City carved out another chance to reduce the deficit. Lee Pluck’s quick free kick finding Bloomfield whose cushioned header was angled just too far in front of the expectant Simpson and Godbold who were both poised to test Little but as the attack broke down Hemsley played the ball to Wilson-Dennis who raced through then inside right channel to find himself one-on-one with Calton. Intelligently, the City stopper stood up forcing the Reds striker to try and steer his shot around him allowing the former Norwich City custodian to deflect the ball into the path of the covering Lee Pluck who cleared to safety.

As it turned out City were fortunate to be only two down at the interval as Crawley missed two further chances to increase their lead. Firstly Baillie and Rice both failed to cut out a ball played down the Crawley right by Judge allowing Brake to race through the channel. Taking the ball in his stride the striker released an early drive producing a superb save from Calton who diverted the ball around his left hand upright at full stretch. From Harkin’s place kick Hemsley again found himself unmarked from six yards but blazed his header over when it seemed easier to score. There was still time for Brake to show good close control, wrong-foot Pluck and beat Pope before firing at Calton.

The only slight blemish on Crawley’s first half display was a yellow card picked up by Rob Smith who failed to retreat the full 10 yards at a stoppage time free-kick.

City made a bright start to the second period and it was still very much game on at this stage. The first chance of the period fell to the visitors however. Baillie fouled the dangerous Gregory (who picked up a knock in the process that was later to see him withdrawn) level with the goal line and another pin-point delivery from Harkin saw Brake slide in at the far post and divert his effort just wide of the target.

As the Lilywhites looked to strike back good work by Rob Miller in centre field won the ball for Louis Riddle on the left and his whipped early cross was just too strong for a stretching Danny Bloomfield at the far post.

With 20 minutes of the half gone Crawley scored the killer third goal, although ironically it stemmed from City’s best attack of the half. Riddle’s spiralling cross from the left put Little under pressure, Bloomfield was first to the loose ball which he cut back inside for Godbold whose low driveforced Little down smartly to block with his legs. Immediately the Reds worked the ball away from danger and with numbers committed to attack City were overstretched at the back. Brake, with his back to goal, collected the ball in the inside left channel. Cleverly he held play up before laying a pass into the feet of Wilson-Dennis who had timed his run to perfection, drawing an unprotected Calton off his line the striker slotted coolly into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

As Crawley burst forward again Wilson-Dennis was caught fractionally offside although his decision to carry on and put the ball into the back of the net earned him a caution.

Almost immediately City reduced the arrears. A mis-kick by Judge sent the ball spinning into the air. Robbie Simpson brought the ball under control and from wide on the right sent a raking cross to the far post where Godbold cushioned the centre into the path of Danny Bloomfield who lashed home from close range.

Any hopes City had of mounting a revival lasted little more than a minute. A quickly taken free kick by Pullan was played into the feet of Wilson-Denis on the left hand edge of the penalty area. Looking up and spotting Calton marginally off his line the Reds striker struck a superb angled chip-shot which dipped just under the bar and in for the best goal of the night.

Gary Roberts made two changes in quick succession Carlin Itonga and Stuart Niven replacing Robbie Simpson and Rob Nightingale respectively. In the aftermath of these substitutions the Lilywhites had a further chance to reduce the arrears, a Rob Miller cross from the right found Jamie Godbold in the area who set up a heading opportunity for Bloomfield but his effort was straight at Little.

Yet another Harkin corner was the catalyst for Crawley to add a fifth with a quarter of an hour still remaining. On this occasion Pullan looked favourite to convert until he was fouled by Rice, referee Cairns pointing immediately to the penalty spot. Kevin Hemsley stepped up to fire high to Alan Calton’s left and complete his hat-trick.

It was to be the central defenders last meaningful contribution as he was withdrawn soon afterwards to be replaced by Steve Causon. In fact with the job done, the visitors’ manager, Francis Vines also introduced his two other permitted subs Fabian Forde and Peter Fear with Harkin and Gregory respectively making way.

With the game effectively over as a contest Gary Roberts took the opportunity to give Academy player Paul Bass ten minutes action, Jamie Godbold taking a breather. In fact Bass’s first contribution was to send a low centre into the feet of Bloomfield who went down under challenge from Pullan but City’s penalty appeals were waved away.

City heads never dropped and as late as the 86th minute a quality piece of wing play by Louis Riddle saw him skin Steve Causon on the left and cut the ball back for Itonga on the near post only for the former Arsenal striker to pull his shot horribly wide of the target, at least it was 5-1 not 2-1 at the time. There was time for the Lilywhites striker to make amends however. With the last kick of the match he latched onto a low clearance from Riddle which took Judge out of the play. The faintest of touches deceived Little and unchallenged Itonga walked the ball into an empty net.

Hardly the ideal preparation for a crucial FA Cup tie on Saturday however, any illusions City may have been under on the back of a seven match unbeaten run were brought sharply into focus as they were put to the sword by easily the best side to play at Milton Road this season.

On the positive side the Lilywhites remained committed and industrious for the full 90 minutes and still stuck to their footballing principles even when the going got tough. Gary Roberts will have to build on these attributes ahead of the weekend.