The Reds claimed an impressive 5-0 victory over Horsham yesterday afternoon in sweltering conditions at the Camping World Community Stadium. Goals from Tom Nichols, Jack Powell, Sam Matthews, Jake Hessenthaler and Tyler Frost sealed an impressive win in Sussex.
Crawley faced early danger as Horsham broke away with a quick counter attack, which resulted in Owen Gallagher conceding a foul on the edge of the penalty area. The Reds wall did it’s job from the resulting free-kick.
Tyler Frost then had a brilliant opportunity to put the Reds ahead shortly after but blasted his effort way over the crossbar. Sam Matthews had delivered a cross to the far post which Tom Nichols was able to take under control, the striker found Frost in plenty of space, but the wide man failed to hit the target.
Frost’s miss was soon forgotten as Tom Nichols put the Reds 1-0 up just moments later. Jake Hessenthaler did brilliantly to dispossess a Horsham defender on the ball, which allowed him to feed in Nichols, who had the simple task of dispatching past the Horsham goalkeeper.
It wasn’t long before Crawley added a second as Jack Powell tucked the ball into the bottom corner after a lovely through ball from Nichols. The striker's lofted pass was perfectly weighted for Powell as the midfielder took the ball in his stride and finished calmly into the back of the net.
The Reds began to turn on the heat and it looked like only a matter of time before they added a third. Sam Matthews continued to look very sharp on the right-hand side, constantly cutting inside his man and having a shot at goal. One of his efforts deflected and fell kindly at the feet of Frost, who fired a wicked volley towards goal, which forced an impressive save from the Horsham goalkeeper.
Crawley did get their third goal just moments, Matthews the scorer after fantastic work from Owen Gallacher. The Reds summer signing took Tom Dallison’s cross-field pass incredibly well on his chest before finding Matthews inside the box, Sam delicately drifted past his marker and fired into the opposite corner.
Horsham began to cause the Reds defence some issues in the early stages of the second half as Glenn Morris was called into action for the first time on the hour mark, making a smart save from close range following a Horsham corner.
It wasn’t to be for the hosts as just moments later, Crawley added a fourth goal. A Reds corner was whipped into the box, and after some pinball-like action, Jake Hessenthaler bundled the ball into an empty net.
The fifth followed shortly afterwards after more brilliant work from Frost, this time intercepting a loose pass before taking it through the two Horsham centre-backs and firing into the bottom corner. A fine and deserved goal for the Crawley winger.
After several substitutions for both sides, the Reds were able to see the game out and wrap up an impressive 5-0 victory.
Reds XI: Morris; Francomb, Craig, Dallison, Gallacher; Frost, Hessenthaler, Powell, Matthews; Nadesan, Nichols.
