Crawley Down Gatwick hit five goals past Saltdean United

With both Ben Brooker and Sam Cane efforts being thwarted amongst these continuing attacks, nerves and tensions were finally relieved on 32 when a free-kick alongside the corner flag by Harry Lowe found Ben Trotter in space at the far post to nod home the Anvil opener.

Further attempts by Brooker and a Trotter cross being headed over by Sam Cane eventually brought the half to its end.

Crawley Down continued to dominate in the second half as Lee Thomas and Trotter both had shots covered by keeper Alward.

The Anvils showed their attacking threat as shots by Trotter hit the post and Cane crashed one against the bar.

Mike Spence was replaced by new signing Josh Brown from Horsham YMCA and more pressure from the Anvils began to tell on the Salts as Brooker fired over, but in the 66th minute Brooker found space down the middle to run at the defence and fire home the third goal.

By now the Salts’ defence started to open up, and a quick double from Thomas, the first running across the face to score and the tucking home a Houlders cross to put the Anvils 4-0 up and well in the driver’s seat.

The final goal came on 73 minutes with Cane bursting down the right channel then nonchalantly lobbing the keeper from outside the box to give a more realistic scoreline to the match as Paul Cooper’s side finally signed off with further shots coming from strikers Cane and Brooker.

The Salts under pressure for most of the half still fought on but the only real threat came from a Mark Howard shot saved, and a Pat Urban effort that also gathered.

Crawley Down Gatwick: Andy Greaves, Blair Cooney, Harry Lowe, Mike Spence (Josh Brown) Steve Dixon, James Day, Dave Houlders, Lee Thomas (Tom Agate), Ben Brooker, Sam Cane, Luke Trotter (Sonny Barton).