BOSS KEEN TO STAY AT BROADFIELD STADIUM
Crawley Town manager John Hollins has confirmed that he and assistant Alan Lewer want to stay and build on the work they have done since taking over in November.

In his programme notes for the Halifax game, Hollins wrote: “Both myself and Alan would like to stay here at Crawley Town and we are talking to the chairman about cementing something for next season.”

After the Halifax match, Hollins confirmed: “We have started to build something and there is still a hell of a lot of work to do if we want to put the club in tip-top condition and we'd like to be here to do that.

“We have found our spirit and style now and today we scored two goals with three attacking players (Scully, Coleman, Gordon) out injured, which is promising.”
Hollins also praised right-back Ben Judge, named player of the season by two local newspapers before the game.

“He is so consistent – every game you would give him a 7.5 out of ten, bordering on an eight. His fitness has improved tremendously in his first season of full-time football and he was delighted to keep Ryan Williams quiet against Aldershot last week. I like him going forward too and he has maintained a high standard.”

Hollins also had a positive word for goalkeeper Phil Smith and hinted he would love to keep midfielder Michael Bostwick for next season.

“Smithy has been exceptional since I came here. He has been consistent and made some real match-turning saves – at Dagenham for example.

“I'd like to keep Michael but it's down to Millwall and obviously we realise that when we take loan players on we are putting them in the shop window – we took Danny Clay for example, he did well and Exeter wanted him back. I'd like to thank Millwall and Ray Wilkins in particular for letting us have the three lads in the first place and then allowing Michael to come back. We'll have to see what happens there.”

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HOLLINS HAPPY WITH HOME POINT
Crawley Town boss John Hollins said he wants six more points from his injury-ravaged squad before they sign off for the summer.

Hollins praised his young side for their performance against fourth-placed Halifax, who virtually confirmed their place in the play-offs by fighting back to draw from 2-0 behind.

“It was an excellent game and probably a point gained, even though we were 2-0 up. They are fourth in the league and we have had two good 2-2 draws with them now.

“We are a young side, particularly in midfield and we are still trying to get a balance. We have got injuries but the players out there worked their socks off and created two very good goals.”

Hollins was particularly delighted with the display of his inexperienced midfield. “As well as teenagers Scott Marshall and Michael Bostwick, I was really impressed with Robbie Kember coming back after bring out on loan. He's picked up what we are trying to do straight away and played well, Bostwick is a powerful boy and scored two good goals while Scottie Marshall probably needs some more strength but is one for next season – and the two games left this season.

“We had Dave Woozley out there with six stitches in his head but still going into his headers. I put Chris Giles on for the last ten minutes. We are just trying to be careful with him as he hasn't even trained since he picked up a thigh strain and we don't want him to break down again. I think we timed it about right.”

“Now we want to beat Exeter on Tuesday. They have taken back Danny Clay, who was a player I liked a lot and I would very much like to go there and win and we want to take Tamworth as well.”

BOSTWICK DOUBLE BOOSTS REDS
Crawley ended an up and down home campaign with a battling 2-2 Conference draw against play-off bound Halifax at Broadfield Stadium on Saturday.

John Hollins had few team selection options but his youthful midfield served him very well and 17-year-old Millwall work experience lad Michael Bostwick scored two well-taken goals before Halifax struck back in the second half.

The visitors are supposed to be warming up for their post-season bid but seemingly hadn't yet mastered the art of the kick-off, and the game finally got underway at the fourth attempt.

Crawley made the early running and it took a cynical foul from Halifax skipper Martin Foster to bring down Steve Burton before he could get into the box after seven minutes. There was surprisingly no card issued, but Crawley made the visitors pay as skipper Danny Brown curled in an excellent left-footed free-kick and Bostwick, who had also scored against Aldershot seven days earlier, steered his header in at the far post to give the Red Devils the lead.

It was 2-0 after 15 minutes as persistence from Robbie Kember and another teenager, Scott Marshall, gave the red-haired youth teamer the chance to play a lovely pass through for Burton on the right byline and his accurate centre was hammered home by Bostwick.

Crawley were well on top in the first half-hour, although Kember, on his first home appearance since returning from a loan spell at Lewes, picked up the game's only yellow card for a late tackle, which was merited, but no worse than Foster's challenge on Burton.

Halifax's best chance of the half saw them twice hammer shots into the wall from a free-kick on the edge of the area.

The visitors were more lively after the break, and Brown did very well to cut out a cross after a good move down the Halifax left but they were soon on the scoresheet as sub Chris Senior finished off a neat 1-2, albeit with a touch of offside about it, by slotting under Phil Smith after 58 minutes.

Eleven minutes later it was 2-2. This time Senior was the creator, sending a teasing ball across the box which Ryan Sugden missed but Lewis Killeen was able to tuck away from a narrow angle at the far post.

That brought a good response from the Reds, though, and Lee Blackburn went bursting into the box before hooking his shot wide, while Burton also fired wide after linking well with sub Neil Jenkins.

Both sides could have been pleased enough with a repeat of the scoreline in the reverse fixture at the Shay and Crawley's walking wounded will remain in good heart as they bid to round off an eventful campaign with trips to Exeter (Tuesday) and Tamworth (Saturday).

Result: Saturday 22nd April (Nationwide Conference)
Crawley Town 2 (Bostwick (2))
Halifax Town 2 (Senior, Killeen)
Attendance: 1285
Crawley Town: Smith, Judge, Mendy, Woozley (Giles 80), Brown, Blackburn, Kember, Bostwick, Marshall (Jenkins 62), Burton , Ekoku.
Unused subs: Ward, El-Abd, Opinel.

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