Crawley left frustrated by Codicote

Crawley Green were held to a 2-2 home draw by Codicote in Molten Spartan SML Division One after the same rivals had knocked them out of the Challenge Trophy during the week.

Both sides found it difficult to keep possession on a heavy surface, but Crawley broke the deadlock on nine minutes when Billy Barnes parried Jamie Warne’s corner on to Lee Loasby’s head.

Barnes’ clearance hit Chris Gibson and bounced just wide on 13 minutes, Leon Gutzmore was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle by Crawley skipper Chris Harvey on 34 minutes and Stuart Strange defended Michael Ettienne’s cross well two minutes before the break.

Crawley looked to have put the game to bed on the hour when a swift counter-attack saw Strange release overlapping full-back Rob Newman whose cross was fired into the roof of the net by Chris Gibson at the back post.

An inspired substitution saw Codicote fight back as replacement Adam Turness pulled one back with 15 minutes to go.

Codicote dominated the last quarter and were rewarded when a defensive allowed Turness to equalise with seven minutes left.

On Wednesday night Crawley Green went out of the Challenge Trophy at fourth round stage as they lost a penalty shoot-out to Codicote 4-1 after extra-time ended 1-1.

Crawley dominated the first half as Barnes saved Peter O’Donnell’s ninth-minute effort, before good passing between O’Donnell and Adam Reid resulted in another effort flying just wide two minutes later.

Nick Nolan and Jamie Warne both went close, while Gutzmore shot wide from close range on 29 minutes.

The Maroons took the lead five minutes before the break when Nolan was bundled over in the area from Reid’s free-kick and Jamie Warne dispatched the penalty.

Codicote bossed the second half as Joe Tyler’s free header three minutes in was cleared of the line by Chris Crook.

Tyler shot wide moments later, while Barnes saved O’Dell’s effort before Codicote levelled from through Gutzmore from Paul Donnelly’s 79th-minute free-kick.

Codicote pressed for the winner as Scott Orphanon shot wide before both side tired in extra-time.

Chris Gibson had the best chance to win it in the 117th-minute when he went through one-on-one with the keeper but the excellent Barnes saved to take the game to penalties.

And Barnes saved twice in the shoot-out as Crawley also hit the post.

This Saturday Crawley go to Wodson Park in Division One and on Wednesday host Winslow United.