Sasha Opinel’s 93rd minute leveller brought this pulsating FA Trophy 4th Round tie to a dramatic conclusion as Conference National high-flyers Crawley secured a replay after they had been stunned by two early goals by a City side who put in an outstanding display against the team with Coca Cola League aspirations.

With Glen Fuff still sidelined and Brady Stone cup-tied the injury ravaged Lilywhites, unbeaten in seven games, were forced to rush Lee Chaffey back into first team action less than two weeks after being on the end of a horror tackle against Carshalton. Whilst midfielders Richard Scott and Dale Binns were named amongst the substitutes Alex Fiddes was still not able to return allowing Rob Miller to continue in centre field. Up front, with the unfortunate Robbie Simpson sidelined for several months as a result of an injury sustained in the 0-0 draw at Redbridge last Saturday, Jon Stevenson returned to the starting line-up.

A Crawley defender struggles to keep tabs on Jon Stevenson

The Red Devils have risen to third in Conference National on the back of a run which has seen them lose only once in their last seven outings. Most recently they beat Canvey Island last Saturday thanks to goals from Sasha Opinel and a late Maurice Harkin penalty. Visiting boss Francis Vines making two changes from the weekend; Harkin (who came on as a second half substitute) replacing Paul Armstrong and Danny Davidson continuing in place of Charlie MacDonald injured in the same game.

City started brightly and had the visitors on the back foot in the opening exchanges. Carl Williams was fouled wide on the right allowing Lee Summerscales to deliver a left-footed free kick, Matt Langston’s aerial presence caused confusion in the Crawley defence and Jon Stevenson almost capitalised with a spectacular bicycle kick forcing Phil Smith into early action.

The Lilywhites maintained the pressure and in their next attack snatched a dramatic lead with only five minutes on the clock. Stevenson caught Robert Watkins in possession wide on the left and squared for Dave Sadler who held play up well before rolling the ball into the path of the advancing Josh Simpson which gave the teenage midfielder sufficient space to send a well placed drive wide of Smith from the edge of the box, the perfect start for the underdogs.

City posed a threat every time they came forward and the game was still less than ten minutes old when Carl Williams did well to win the ball wide on the right and play a measured pass into the path of Sadler but the former Hinckley hit-man couldn’t get a clean strike on goal and Watkins was able to crowd him out.

Crawley soon served notice that they posed an attacking threat of their own as Harkin picked up the ball in centre field, drifted right and fired powerfully across the face of goal from the right of the area, forcing Duncan Roberts into good diving stop down to his right.

This was to be the first in a series of fine saves that preserved the Lilywhites lead as the Red Devils piled on the pressure. Neil Jenkins threaded a ball in from wide on the left which found its way right across the box into the path of Harkin whose snap-shot was destined for the bottom corner of the net before Roberts moved smartly to his left to make a fine reflex save at the foot of the post.

Jenkins then played in Danny Davidson who got behind Matt Langston and seemed destined to level until City’s giant custodian made another crucial block, this time with his legs.

The Lilywhites managed to relieve the pressure temporarily and Craig Pope freed Jon Stevenson with an intelligent lofted pass, showing excellent vision the former Leicester City striker whipped in a near post cross where only the timely intervention of Ian Simpemba denied Josh Simpson a second.

Matt Langston flicks the ball beyond Danny Davidson and into the net

A lightening break from the visitors then saw Jenkins combine with Harkin again but the former Nuneaton midfielder was left holding his head in his hands as Roberts pulled off another wonder stop from point-blank range. Harkin returned the favour moments later crossing from the right for Jenkins who headed inches wide of the target.

Midway through the half Crawley paid for their profligacy in front of goal as City snatched an unlikely second. There seemed little danger as Rob Miller lofted a free kick into the area from just inside the centre circle. Matt Langston rose impressively and flicked a powerful back header over Simpemba, Phil Smith found himself poorly positioned and was left clutching thin air as the ball looped over him and into the roof of the net.

With the Red Devils visibly rocked City attempted to put the game beyond doubt. More good work by Williams wide on the right allowed Sadler to play Stevenson in and the ten goal striker, brimming with confidence, cut inside before firing narrowly over.

With thirty minutes played Craig Pope was penalised for a foul on the angle of the penalty area, a well worked free kick routine between the two playmakers, Jenkins and Harkin, saw the latter fire just high of the target.

This was a foretaste of what was to come however as in their next attack Crawley at last converted one of their chances. Harkin played the ball in from wide on the right and Davidson held off the challenge of Lee Chaffey sufficiently to create the space for Allan Tait to fire high of an exposed Duncan Roberts from ten yards.

City were desperate to hold on until the interval but with five minutes to half time Crawley came within inches of finding a leveller. Simon Wormull’s perfectly flighted free kick found Simpemba who powered a header past Roberts only to see it crash against the bar.

With time as good as up City carved out another opening, more good work between Williams, Sadler and Stevenson produced another good near post centre which Smith was grateful to grab ahead of the on-rushing Matt Robinson.

As expected, Crawley took the game to City after the break and produced a spell of concerted pressure as the hosts were forced to defend deeper and deeper. The influential Wormull served notice of their intentions with a well struck free kick which fizzed just over the bar. Davidson then turned Lee Chaffey but finished disappointingly sliding his shot wide of the target. As the ball was worked in from the left Wormull then used his strength to hold off Chaffey and shoot on the turn but Roberts was again on hand to parry away. Jenkins then threaded a neat ball through the Lilywhites back line only for skipper Matt Langston, who was outstanding throughout, to deny Davidson with a sliding challenge.

Inevitably with the City goal under siege they conceded just after the hour. With the strikers forced back to help out Dave Sadler jumped in an attempt to block Ben Judge’s cross but raised his arms, the ball struck him and referee Amy Rayner had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Harkin stepped up and finished clinically, sending Roberts right and shooting left.

Craig Pope shapes up to challenge Davidson

To their credit City bounced back and went in search of the winner. Excellent work by Sadler wide on the right saw him send in a deep cross which found Matt Robinson on the far post. The former Cambridge United midfielder powered his drive into the ground and as it reared up Smith leaped acrobatically to palm the ball away from under the crossbar.

Sadler was again the provider as he switched to the left and centred for Simpson who was foiled by a great reaction save from Smith who was down sharply to his left.

City saw their efforts rewarded with a third goal on seventy minutes. Robinson and Williams worked a short corner on the right back to Rob Miller who fired in from outside of the box. The ball was blocked but fell invitingly for the predatory Stevenson who reacted in an instant to lash the ball past Smith.

Whilst Crawley enjoyed the majority of the possession the City defence held firm and offered Roberts excellent protection. Playing like the away side the Lilywhites were forced to rely on the occasional breakaway and when Williams was fouled just outside the box Matt Robinson’s left footed strike beat the flying Smith but cannoned off the upright before the recovering former Margate ‘keeper was able to scramble the ball away.

Then, just when it seemed City had done enough to secure an historic passage into the Fifth Round the West Sussex side grabbed a last gasp leveller. Deep into the last of three added minutes a tiring City midfield allowed a through ball to sail beyond an exposed back line and into the path of Opinel who came racing in from the left flank, with Pope and Langston coming in from behind him and Roberts racing out to meet him the player signed from Farnborough only last month kept his cool and slid a low shot into the far corner of the net.

There were barely 10 seconds remaining and no sooner had City kicked off than the final whistle blew which means the teams will have to try all over again at the Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday. The Lilywhites will be hugely disappointed that they couldn’t hold out for victory but they must gain some satisfaction from a highly creditable performance against classy opposition.