Crawley 2 Stevenage 1: Deacon gets 90th minute winner

Gwion Edwards gave Reds the lead in the 68th minute but this was cancelled out with three minutes of normal play left by Stevenage’s Michael Tonge from the penalty spot.

However Reds did not settle for a draw and in the final minute Deacon scored their second goal against his former club.

Mark Yates made three changes from the side which lost 4-2 at Barnet.

In came goalkeeper Callum Preston for a rare start in place of Darryl Flahavan who had an ankle injury.

Shamir Fenelon started up in place of Rhys Murphy who has returned to Oldham at the end of his loan.

Jon Ashton came in for Luke Rooney who was on the bench.

Crawley had the first two chances on goal as Fenelon was one-on-one with keeper Chris Day but could not get a shot away.

Fenelon was then put through by Mitch Hancox and he twisted before shooting a scuffed shot which took a deflection before rolling to Day.

Jimmy Smith teed up Matt Harrold with a cross only for him to header the chance wide.

Stevenage right midfielder Chris Whelpdale hobbled off injured after 20 minutes ande was replaced with Rodhell Gordon.

Ashton carried out a superb block to cut out an attrack by for brother of former Reds favourite Kyle McFadzean, Callum, which went out for a corner.

Hancox chested the ball and sliced an effort wide from 25 yards.

Then just before half-time in a poor first half, Michael Tonge saw a shot defelcted wide off-target.

Stevenage were quickest out of the blocks at the start of the second half as Jamie McCombe put through Tom Pett whose short-range shot was well saved by Preston.

The visitors continued to press forward as Armand Gnanduillet lifted a chance over the bar.

Reds broke away with Gwion Edwards racing down the right flank. He crossed to Mitch Hancox whose side-footed shot went wide of the left post.

Crawley took the lead when Matt Harrold’s header found Edwards, who controlled the ball, cut inside and fired in the opening goal.

Reds were close to adding a second moments later when Jimmy Smith beat Mark Hughes to launch a cross which McCombe cleared.

Stevenage equalised in the 87th minute when Charlie Lee was brought down by Josh Yorwerth and Michael Tonge scored from the ensuing penalty.

However the game was not over as Reds managed to score a 90th minute winner when Simon Walton’s free-kick was headed back by Yorwerth and Deacon tapped in from short range to score against his former club.

REDS: Preston, Walton, Bradley (capt), Edwards, Smith, Young, Fenelon (Barnard 62), Ashton, Harrold (Deacon 85), Hancox, Yorwerth

Unused subs: Rooney, Bawling, Deacon, Tomlin, Jenkins, Emmanuel

STEVENAGE: Day, Cox, McCombe, Hughes, Whelpdale (Gordon 20), Pett, Tonge, Okimo, Henry, McFadzean (Lee 76), Gnanduillet (Matt 64)

Unused subs: Franks, Crowe, Conlon, Gorman

REFEREE: Michael Bull

ATTENDANCE: 2,289 (239 away)

MAN OF THE MATCH: Gwion Edwards

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