Under-strength Crawley Green claim unlikely Colney Heath cup win

Injury-hit Crawley Green secured an unlikely and highly controversial 3-2 win against Colney Heath in the first round of the Molten Spartan SML Challenge Trophy on Wednesday night.

With centre-half Matt Baldry and his wife Rachel celebrating the birth of their baby son Leo (9lb 7oz), Division One Crawley were forced to draft in keeper Dean Bull to play centre-half.

Premier Division Heath bossed the opening with Aaron Clarke and Jimmy Hartley both having shots blocked.

And it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead. Stuart Strange was harshly penalised for handball and Kev Ashwood sent Bart Pedrycz in the Crawley goal the wrong way to put Heath 1-0 up.

Crawley defended in numbers but always looked dangerous on the break and levelled three minutes later they were level.

Henry Mungwira’s fine run and cross from the right was driven past Ricky Perks by Hayden Wills to make it 1-1.

Heath continued to dominate, but failed to turn their pressure into goals and almost paid the penalty when Bull fired over from a corner on 36th minutes.

Just before the break Heath restored their lead when Jimmy Hartley’s cross from the right was deflected and Aaron Clarke was on hand to make it 2-1.

Crawley continued to defend well in the second half and used the pace of Mungwira and Jamie Warne on the counter.

With the game getting increasingly scrappy, Crawley’s dogged determination was rewarded when Peter O’Donnell was clattered in the box and the referee allowed the advantage for Mungwira to fire in a shot which Perks could only parry into the net on 66 minutes.

Ashwood went close with a free-kick for Heath and Warne replied with an effort for Crawley which was well saved by Perks, before Crawley snatched a dramatic 87th-minute winner in controversial circumstances.

Mungwira and Bradley Turner both had efforts blocked before the ball fell to Donnell on the edge of the box.

O’Donnell was fouled as he shot and the ball deflected up and over the wrong-footed Perks and into the top right hand corner of the goal.

A split second before the ball spun over Perks the referee appeared to blow for the free-kick, but controversially allowed goal to stand.

Heath hotly disputed the decision and Crawley regrouped to withstand a final onslaught.

In the 5 minutes of added time Heath failed to creates a chance to take the game into extra time.

The visitors created chances in the five minutes of added time but Crawley clung on to book their place in the next round where they will face either Harpenden Town or Hertford Town.

Crawley Green go to Codicote in Division One on Tuesday.