Striker on target as Reds win pre-season game 6-0
James Collins scored twice on his Crawley Town debut as Reds enjoyed another good pre-season workout against Ryman League opposition.
Three days after winning 9-2 at East Grinstead Town, they made the short trip to the Jubilee Field where Collins struck twice in the opening 15 minutes. Lanre Oyebanjo, Jordan Roberts, Josh Payne and Jason Banton were also on target in a one-sided first half which ended with Reds 6-0 in front.
Head Coach Dermot Drummy made nine changes at the break and the second half was much more competitive, with Billy Clifford, one of five trialists in the squad, going closest with a shot which hit the bar.
Collinstook just eight minutes to make an impact after signing for Reds in a three-year deal on Monday from Shrewsbury Town.
The striker pounced from close range to open the scoring in the eighth minute after Bridges’ keeper Kieron Thorp could only push Banton’s shot into his path.
, who advanced from right-back to find the top corner with his right foot from 20 yards, his first goal for the club.OyebanjoReds doubled their lead three minutes later with a spectacular strike from
got his second with an unchallenged header from Jimmy Smith’s corner.CollinsIt was 3-0 on 15 minutes when
Bridges responded brightly with ex-Reds striker Allan Tait firing off target with two efforts before Tony Garrod dragged a shot wide.
headed against the post from Oyebanjo’s cross on 26 minutes before finding the target seven minutes later with a powerful strike into the top corner from 25 yards after Enzio Boldewijn’s pass set him up.RobertsBut Reds continued to look threatening every time they went forward.
drifted past two defenders, drew the keeper and drilled a low shot into the far corner.Banton was on target at the second attempt after his first effort was blocked and there was still time for a sixth before the break when Payne minute when Josh rdThe fifth goal came in the 43
It was a very impressive 45 minutes by Reds but it was all change at the break with only Addison Garnett and Collins remaining for the second period. Boldewijn came on for Collins after an hour.
Bobson Bawling, Alper Tursun, Matt Harrold and Josh Yorwerth were not involved because of injury and, in Yorwerth’s case, illness although Harrold continued his rehab after summer knee surgery with a workout before kick-off.
minute before Mitchell Beeney extended his 6ft 5in frame to tip over a powerful effort from Garrod.rdBilly Clifford, one of the new faces, struck the bar from 25 yards in the 53
Boldewijn went close to a seventh goal when his dipping effort flew just wide from 25 yards before he just failed to make decisive contact when Lewis Young raced down the right and sent over an inviting cross.
The game petered out in the closing stages but DD will have been pleased with another good run-out for his team.
- TeamFirst half: Mersin, Oyebanjo, Blackman, Garnett, Connelly, Boldewijn, Smith, Payne, Roberts, Banton, Collins.
: Beeney, Myers, McNerney, Garnett, Arthur, Tajbakhsh, Gregory, Clifford, Hoffman, Young, Collins (Boldewijn 60).Second half
