Crawley Green ease to win at bottom-of-the-table Langford

Crawley Green ran out comfortable 3-1 winners against bottom-of-the-table Langford in a wind-affected Molten Spartan SML Division One encounter on Saturday.

The visitors had the better of the opening and took the lead after 13 minutes when Peter O’Donnell smashed in off the underside of the bar after good work down the right by Jamie Warne.

Crawley continued to create chances with Henry Mungwira shooting wide on 16 minutes after being set up by Stuart Strange, while John Butler headed over Daniel Mead’s cross.

Michael Parkin tipped another Butler effort over after half an hour, before the Maroosn doubled their lead on 39 minutes when O’Donnell set Chris Gibson up to beat Parkin from close range.

Gibson then had two more chances to increase the lead, but was denied by Parkin.

Crawley continued to dominate in the second half, but failed to increase their lead.

Warne had an effort tipped over by Parkin and Mark Smith had a shot fly just wide.

Langford replied with an effort from Jack Stanton which was well saved by Dean Bull, but the home side did pull a goal back on 67 minutes when Chris Harvey’s poor back header was intercepted by Jack Stanton and he raced through to score.

Crawley quickly restored their two-goal advantage four minutes later when the referee played a good advantage to allow O’Donnell and Mungwira to set up Gibson to make it 3-1.

Green continued to dominate the closing stages as they ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.

Crawley host Kent Athletic in the Beds Senior Cup on Saturday and go to Risborough Rangers in the second round of the Division One Cup on Tuesday night.