Full time: Crawley Town 2 Ebbsfleet United 1

​Blue Square Premier

Crawley Town 2

Ebbsfleet United 1

SUPER sub Michael Malcolm inspired Crawley to three vital points as they edged past a battling Ebbsfleet United side.

Malcolm scored himself on 75 minutes before having a hand in Charlie Ademeno’s classy finish with five minutes remaining.

Moses Ashikodi pulled one back for the visitors as the clocked ticked towards 90 but the Reds held on for the win that keeps them in the Blue Square play-off picture.

Town had conceded after just 45 seconds against AFC Wimbledon in midweek but they almost had a first minute goal of their own as Charlie Ademeno drilled a low shot across goal from an almost impossible angle.

The nippy forward was also involved in the big talking point of the first half as he appeared to be hauled down just outside the area by Crooks having already beaten two United defenders.

Crookes would surely have been sent off as he was last man but referee Simon Long waved away the Town appeal, to the fury of manager Steve Evans.

Moments earlier Glenn Wilson flicked a ball onto the top of the net after getting on the end of a Sam Rents free kick while Matt Langston headed just wide of the post as Crawley enjoyed a period of sustained pressure.

However, Ebbsfleet caused a few problems themselves with former Reds striker Magno Viera and Moses Ashikodi looking lively on the break.

Just before the interval Wilson looked certain to score when Langston’s knock-down fell to him six yards out, but brave defending saw Dean Pooley get his head down to clear the ball – taking a bad kick in the head in the process that led to him leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

The game became ragged after the break, with the home supporters becoming increasingly frustrated as his side struggled to get the ball down on the floor.

Wilson’s miss-hit cross clattered the crossbar while Danny Forrest almost embarrassed Lance Cronin as he attempted to charge down United’s keeper.

But the game changed with the introduction of Malcolm and he put his side ahead almost instantly.

Town finally created a move of quality as Wilson found Forrest in the box and his header back across goal found Malcolm unmarked six yards out and the winger made no mistake nodding the ball home.

The relief washed over the Broadfield and the goal seemed to relax Crawley who started to play with more confidence.

It was 2-0 10 minutes later as Pinault found Ademeno on the right of the penalty area. With the ball dropping over his shoulder the forward hit a sliding volley past Cronin into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

It looked as though Ademeno’s strike would allow the Reds to play out the final few minutes without incident, but Ashikodi ensured there would be one last twist in the tail.

In the last minute of normal time United won a free-kick right on the edge of the home area. Rayner spent an age adjusting his wall but somehow Ashikodi found a hole as he blasted a low shot into the bottom right corner.

This meant that it was all hands to the defensive pump for injury time, but despite Ebbsfleet throwing everything they had at the Reds, Town held on to secure the victory.

Crawley Town: Rayner, Rusk, Broadhurst, Langston, Rents, Forrest (Killeen 90), Wilson, Pinault, Smith (Malcolm 73), Cogan, Ademeno.

Unused subs: Carter, Quinn, Jordan.

Ebbsfleet United: Cronin, Collins, Heeroo (Ginty 82), Pooley (Salmon 39), Viera, Ashikodi, Stavrinou, Shakes (Welsh 89), Crooks Bailey, Charles.

Unused subs: Salmon, West, Wills.

Attendance: 983