Full time: Crawley Town 1 Cambridge United 0
Crawley Town 1
Cambridge United 0
BARRY Cogan kept Crawley’s play-off dream alive as his goal fired the Reds to a much needed victory over Cambridge United.
The Reds line-up contained Charlie Ademeno after his deadline day switch from Crawley fell through at the last minute.
And the first chance of the game fell to the striker. Sam Rents cleared the ball to Ben Smith who played a sublime pass for the forward was hovering in the left hand channel. Ademeno cut inside and engineered a shooting opportunity but dragged his effort wide of Laurie Walker’s right-hand post.
But on eight minutes Crawley were ahead, thanks to a wonderful solo effort from Cogan.
The winger intercepted the ball on the edge of the visitor’s box near the right corner flag. He cut inside and looked to be shaping to pass before picking a spot in the bottom corner of the United net and slotting the ball home.
Town were rampant and Eddie Hutchinson had a header deflected wide.
But Cambridge were not out of the game and Lee Phillips should have equalised when the ball fell kindly to him in the box, but the forward took too long to get his shot away and allowed Adam Quinn to get back and block his effort.
Ademeno almost doubled the Reds advantage just before the half-hour mark, but he was unable to direct his header from Thomas Pinault’s well directed cross and the chance was gone.
Simon Rayner had to be alert to deny Danny Crow, the big keeper pushing the ball out for a corner after Jai Reason had played him in.
After a bright start Crawley were starting to become a little ragged and Robbie Willmot should have done better than picking out Rayner with Phillips free in the box.
The visitors started the second half and enjoyed a number of free-kicks and corners without seriously threatening the Town goal.
Ademeno almost scored a fluke goal when he charged down young Walker’s clearance, but the ball flew the wrong side of the post.
Karl Broadhust was harshly booked for handball but he very nearly grabbed a second for the Reds. Quinn rose highest from Malcolm’s corner to head back across goal but Broadhurst was only able to knock the ball over the bar.
Smith drilled a shot wide before Ademeno ran half the length of the pitch, beating two defenders, but fired his shot wide.
But at 1-0 Crawley could not be guaranteed victory and a mistake from Sam Rents almost gifted United an equaliser.
The left-back played a sloppy pass to Crow who was through on goal on the right flank. He went round the on-rushing Rayner but Rusk was on hand at the back to clear the forward’s cross with two Cambridge players free in the box.
Crawley Town: Rayner, Rusk, Quinn, Broadhurst, Rents, Cogan, Hutchinson, Pinault, Smith (Forrest 82), Malcolm (Killeen 87), Ademeno (King 92).
Unused Subs: Jordan, Lake-Edwards.
Cambridge United: Walker, Gleeson, Palmer, Coulson, Partridge, Crow, Willmot, Reason, Russell, Ives (Murray 74), Phillips (Beesley 69).
Unused Subs: McAuley, Coakley, Marriot.
Attendance: 1108 (313 away)
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