Today the Reds lost out to National League South side Dorking Wanderers at Meadowbank in a game that gave valuable game time to some of our younger players.
We started the game on the front foot as James Tilley shone bright in the early stages, going close with two separate efforts. Nick Tsaroulla also looked sharp and linked up with Tyler Frost minutes later who took a neat touch before shooting over the bar.
Davide Rodari played as a lone striker and managed to hold the ball up well for Tilley again in the first-half who this time directed his effort on target but forced a great save from the goalkeeper.
Dorking grew into the game however as Nelson reacted well to deny Rutherford’s effort before again tipping away a bicycle-kick from Fogden. Dorking then took the lead from the resulting corner as an unmarked Rutherford headed past Nelson.
Reds reacted well again with Tilley who showed off his footwork, skinning his marker and dancing his way into the area before playing the ball over to Tsaroulla who had his effort on goal blocked by a sliding leg.
Shortly after, Dorking went up the other end and had a flurry of chances in quick succession after the ball was not cleared away from the area.
After the break, Crawley made a double change which saw Manny Adebowale and Tarryn Allarakhia replace Nick Tsaroulla and a Reds trialist. Jamie O’Hara came on for the hosts and gifted us a chance with Rodari who went through on goal but struck his effort right at the goalkeeper.
Zaid Al-Hussaini replaced Tyler Frost who suffered an injury on the hour mark, and shortly after James Tilley was brought down for a penalty which was saved well as Dorking remained ahead.
Alfie Jones, Henry Burnett, Ricky German and Szymon Kowalczyk all featured in the second-half, but it was the hosts who got the second goal after Jimmy Muitt blasted in off of the woodwork. The third followed closely as a brilliant cross was headed in from close range.
Reds XI: Nelson (Jones); Sesay, Trialist A (Adebowale), Trialist B, M. Wright; Tilley (Trialist C), Khaleel (Kowalczyk), J. Wright (Burnett), Tsaroulla (Allarakhia); Frost (Al-Hussaini), Rodari (German).
Bench: Jones, Adebowale, Allarakhia, Burnett, Al-Hussaini, Kowalczyk, German.
