Crawley Town Football Club news for 26 February 2006

CRAWLEY FROZEN OUT AT CANVEY
Crawley slipped to a second 1-0 defeat away from home in five days a frustrating fourth straight one-goal defeat away from the Broadfield Stadium at Canvey Island on Saturday.

Following Tuesday's loss at Kidderminster, Crawley were beaten by a second-half header from Canvey defender Dominic Sterling on a bitterly cold, windy afternoon in Essex.

It was a massive disappointment for Town, who only managed to test the Island goalkeeper once.

Some minor consolation for the Reds was that relegation rivals Tamworth, who were giving a debut to the ex-England, Arsenal and Aston Villa midfielder Paul Merson, who had recently lost his job as Walsall manager, lost at home to Halifax while Scarborough, who have played three more games than the Reds, failed to pull away despite taking a point from a goalless draw at Gravesend & Northfleet

Crawley boss John Hollins made one change to the starting line-up from Kidderminster at Canvey, with Steve Burton restored to the side in place of recent signing Gavin Gordon.

Reds keeper Phil Smith was first called into action after 17 minutes when he pushed away a shot from Jason Hallett and two minutes later ex-Brighton midfielder Jeff Minton curled a free-kick narrowly wide following a foul on striker Allan Tait, who left the Reds in the summer.

Struggling as they played against a strong wind, Town's first effort on goal came when Burton, who spent time on loan at Canvey Island before joining Crawley last season, was given space and his effort from 25 yards out went just wide of home keeper Danny Potter's left-hand post.

Canvey's John Kennedy enjoyed some space on the right which enabled Minton to fire an effort goalwards which Smith was able to turn away for a corner.

With the hard work done in the first half against the strong wind, Crawley were fancied to take advantage of the conditions in the second half but it was Canvey who scored the game's only goal in the 53rd minute.

The Reds failed to clear a corner and Minton crossed for Sterling to head home his first goal of the season off the post.

Chances were few and far between for the visitors to draw level. Paul Armstrong latched onto a free ball following a corner from the left and his effort from 20 yards was turned away by Potter. The last chance fell for Crawley's leading scorer, Daryl Clare, but it was a difficult chance for the two-time golden boot winner from a Sacha Opinel free-kick and he headed wide as Crawley fell to a 10th away defeat of the season in all competitions.

Result: Saturday 25th February (Nationwide Conference)
Canvey Island 1
Crawley Town 0
Attendance 698
Crawley Town: Phil Smith, Ben Judge (Danny Ekoku 88), Ian Simpemba, David Woozley, Leonard Mendy, Sacha Opinel, Paul Armstrong, Lee Blackburn (Danny Clay 73), Tony Scully, Daryl Clare, Steve Burton (Gavin Gordon 59).
Unused subs: Scott Ward, Danny Brown.