Despite coming back from behind twice, the Reds fell to defeat at Barrow this afternoon. George Francomb cancelled out a Tom Davies header before Scott Quigley restored the Barrow lead from the penalty spot. Jack Powell scored a rare headed goal as Crawley looked to take a point. Quigley scored his second of the game in the dying minutes to secure his side all three points.
A good start for the Reds as Jack Powell looked to combine with the lone striker Tom Nichols. Powell looked to slide in Nichols after working the ball well with George Francomb, Jack’s final ball was slightly over hit and ran out for a goal-kick.
Barrow were handed a chance in the opening stages after a Glenn Morris clearance came loose in the midfield. Luke James collected the ball and began to drive into the box, as Morris came out quickly to smother the shot.
Just moments later Barrow did have the lead as Tom Davies headed home from a corner. More good work from James on the right-wing won the host’s a corner, Tom Davies rose highest at the back post and converted his header into the back of the Crawley net.
Despite playing against the wind, Barrow started brightly as they looked to expose the space in behind the Crawley defence. A lofted ball aimed at striker Scott Quigley was brought down excellently by the frontman, Jordan Tunnicliffe throwing himself at the ball to clear the danger.
Crawley had controlled possession after the opening goal despite Barrow looking sharp on the counter-attack. The Reds did take advantage of the possession as they found an equaliser through George Francomb. Joe McNerney lofted a brilliant ball over the top towards Nichols as the striker somehow kept the ball in play with a great first touch, Nichols was able to cut the ball back to Francomb as the right-back calmly slotted under Joel Dixon for the equaliser.
The Reds were only level for a matter of minutes as referee Scott Oldham pointed to the spot following a Barrow free-kick. A Crawley player was adjudged to have left a late leg in after a challenge with Bobby Thomas. Quigley stepped up and thumped the penalty into the top left corner to restore Barrow’s lead.
Crawley started the second half on top just as they ended the first despite going in a goal down. Both Francomb and McNerney went close in the opening stages of the second half. Francomb had a shot blocked on the edge of the area as McNerney headed just wide from a corner.
Then came a real scare for Crawley as Ollie Banks tried a speculative effort from 35-yards after Barrow won a free-kick. With the wind in the favour of the midfielder, he decided to have a go at goal and sent an effort towards goal which crashed off of the Crawley wall, the ball travelled towards Morris with real pace as the goalkeeper was just able to claim down to his right.
A very scrappy half was beginning to unfold, with both teams struggling to create chances with the Reds playing into the heavy wind. Despite this, it was Crawley who struck next as Jack Powell nodded home an equaliser. Substitute Jordan Maguire-Drew did really well to break away from his man and clip towards the back post, the ball cleared Dixon as Powell could not miss at the far post.
A real moment of class followed as deep into stoppage time Scott Quigley turned inside his man and fired at goal. Glenn Morris somehow managed to outstretch a hand and tip round his post.
After a real battling performance, Crawley were left devastated as Scott Quigley converted from the following corner. The ball bounced it’s way through every man in the box and landed at the feet of Scott Quigley who tapped in to give his side the lead for the third time.
Heartbreak for Crawley as they travel back to Crawley empty-handed.
Reds XI: Morris; Craig, McNerney, Tunnicliffe (Tsaroulla 68’), Francomb; Wright, Hessenthaler, Powell; Davies (Nadesan 64’), Tilley (Maguire-Drew 78’), Nichols.
