- Boldewijn scored twice as Reds do double over Bees
- Crawley move up to 14th
- Fifth win in seven for Kewell’s men
- Three wins in a row for first time since 2015
Enzio Boldewijn scored two excellent goals to ensure that Reds climbed to 14th in the League Two table with an ultimately comfortable 2-0 victory over bottom side Barnet at the Checkatrade Stadium.
The Dutch striker scored his fifth goal in four games to ensure Harry Kewell's Reds clinched the all-important three points. The win ensured we completed our second double of the season, having won 2-1 at the Hive in October.
It was Barnet that started brighter with Jamal Campbell-Ryce crossing well for John Akinde but the former Crawley striker couldn't get much purchase on the ball. Crawley then replied with a chance of their own but Jordan Roberts skewed his effort just wide.
The Reds grew into the game a little bit more and in the 14th minute Lewis Young found himself some space in behind but could only loft his effort over the bar. Mark Randall and Mark Connolly were both booked in the first 15 minutes for late challenges as Barnet looked to assert themselves.
Campbell-Rice then had another opportunity as the ball fell to him in the box from a corner but he smashed his effort into the ground and over the bar. The Bees then came extremely close to opening the scoring when the ball broke in the box for Akinde but his effort, which looked to be out of the reach of Glenn Morris, was scrambled away by Josh Yorwerth a yard in front of goal.
Crawley's main threat at that stage was Roberts and he nearly turned provider on two occasions, first when his low cross eluded everyone and then when his fantastic ball into the area was headed over by Young.
Morris was then tested when Jack Taylor shot from 20 yards but 'keeper managed to tip the ball round the post. Crawley produced their best chance of the game just before half time but Randall couldn't convert Young's cutback, firing over from 15 yards.
The second half started in an action-packed manner - first when Young found himself through on goal only for the offside flag to be raised as he blasted his effort over. Akinde then tried to place an effort into the bottom corner but was denied by Morris.
Young had been Crawley's best player in the second half, constantly making himself available and getting into attacking situations.
Crawley finally broke the deadlock with just under 15 minutes to go. Boldewijn did brilliantly to cut inside from the right before curling his effort into the top corner to send the fans behind the south goal into raptures. Substitute Moussa Sanoh then nearly doubled the lead but his effort flew just past the post.
With the clock running down Boldewijn made the game safe when he calmly slotted the ball past Craig Ross after some unselfish work from Young.
It is now five wins from seven for Harry Kewell’s side, who now face two tough away games in four days at Newport County on Friday and Notts County on Tuesday week.
Crawley Town: Glenn Morris; Lewis Young (sub: Panutche Camara 89), Mark Connolly, Josh Lelan; Josh Yorwerth, Cedric Evina, Mark Randall (sub: Moussa Sanoh 59), Dannie Bulman (sub: Joe McNerney 72), Jimmy Smith; Jordan Roberts, Enzio Boldewijn
Unused subs: Yusuf Mersin (GK), Aryan Tajbakash, Josh Doherty, Thomas Verheydt.
Attendance: 1874 (235 away).
Innovation F&S man of the match: Lewis Young
Picture: Enzio Boldewijn takes the acclaim after scoring his second goal in the 2-0 win over Barnet. Photo by James Boardman, Telephoto Images
