Crawley traveled for the final time this season up to Hertfordshire to take on Alex Revell’s Stevenage in a game that ended level in a fantastic 3-3 draw.
George Francomb, Ashley Nadesan and Jack Powell were the scorers as the Reds levelled things up from three deficits over the course of the game.
Minutes into the game Elliott List burst forward as recently named League Two Team of the Year defender Jordan Tunnicliffe paced back before making an incredible sliding challenge to intercept and clear danger before List could get the shot away.
Crawley then had a chance to attack as Jack Powell’s long ball round the run of Ashley Nadesan who after crossing to Nick Tsaroulla, received the ball back as he squared to Jordan Maguire-Drew in the area who was challenged before a shot on goal could be taken.
Following a set-piece, Maguire-Drew found some space out on the right wing before the ball was crossed well to Joe McNerney who nodded the ball whilst on the turn only inches past the far post.
Twenty minutes in Tunnicliffe was deemed to have brought down Elliott List in the area as the referee awarded what looked like a soft penalty. Luke Norris stepped up and converted past a helpless Glenn Morris in between the sticks to give the hosts a first-half lead.
Only three minutes later the Reds in black equalised when Jack Powell’s low corner was dummied intelligently by Ashley Nadesan into the path of an on-rushing George Francomb who drilled the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net. A superb set-piece straight off of the training ground.
Five minutes into the second-half Maguire-Drew found Nadesan with an exquisite pass with the outside of his boot as the striker paced forward before cutting inside and striking just wide of the mark. Maguire-Drew later found Nadesan once again who dashed past Prosser before looking into the area for an option and lofting a ball towards Josh Wright who volleyed wide.
After 68 minutes John Yems made his first changes of the game as Tyler Frost and Archie Davies got stripped and ready to replace Nick Tsaroulla and Jordan Maguire-Drew who impressed in wide areas, especially in the first-half of play.
Stevenage front man Luke Norris found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Morris on 73 minutes as he took his time to slip the ball over the Cat and into the back of the net. A second-half lead not necessarily deserved for the home side.
But once again Crawley reacted brilliantly equalising only five minutes later. Jake Hessenthaler did excellently well to guide the ball towards Nadesan in the middle who leaped across to get a precise headed touch on it as the ball floated into the back of the net.
Three minutes later it was Stevenage who went ahead for the third time within the game as substitute Arthur Read was given too much space to shoot on the edge of the area as the ball was curled precisely into the far corner. 3-2 the scoreline with nine minutes to play.
With three minutes to play Davide Rodari stepped onto the turf in place of Joe McNerney as Tony Craig switched into the centre of defence as Archie Davies moved back into his natural position at right-back.
As four minutes of added time were indicated Crawley had a late succession of corner kicks after a wave of black pressure. Jack Powell was the short option and decided to chop inside before unleashing an outrageous bulleted effort which flew into the net after deflecting off of the crossbar. Crawley’s third equaliser of the game.
The whistle blew as the Reds expected yet another corner but the scoreline ended at 3-3. Fantastic character and spirit from Crawley Town.
Crawley will host Bolton Wanderers next Saturday in our final game of the 2020/21 season.
Reds XI: Morris; Francomb, McNerney (Rodari 87’), Tunnicliffe, Craig; Maguire-Drew (Frost 68’), Hessenthaler, Powell, J. Wright, Tsaroulla (Davies 68’); Nadesan.
