'It flew in!' - Crawley Town v Chesterfield player ratings as skipper nets 8/10
Ron Alderman’s Crawley Town players rated against Chesterfield
Crawley Town secured a late point as Jay Williams headed home a late equaliser after Liam Mandeville put Chesterfield ahead before half-time.
The game started fairly openly as both sides looked to gain an advantage. Justin Ferizaj curled a shot goalward on three minutes, but it went just wide, and Dylan Duffy also curled a shot wide from a short corner a couple of minutes later.
The Reds had a couple of half chances, Danilo Orsi forcing Zach Hemming into a save, which went for a throw-in, and Klaidi Lolos had a header wide, but the better chances fell to the Spireites. First on 18 minutes, Chey Dunkley was found in space from a short corner, but he headed wide from close range, then on 33 minutes, Dilan Markanday should have scored when he was found just inside the Crawley half, but his shot went wide under pressure from Ade Adeyemo.
Crawley were forced to make a change on 27 minutes as Lewis Richards, filling in for the injured Josh Flint, had to be replaced by Johnny Russell, and it was a deflection of Russell that led to Chesterfield’s opener, as Liam Mandeville fired a shot from just inside the area, deflected off Russell and passed Jacob Chapman on 39 minutes.
Crawley made an attacking change at the start of the second half, as Taylor Richards came on for Justin Ferizaj. It certainly made a difference to the side, as Crawley was the better team.
Crawley created plenty of chances but with no end product, which is becoming a real concern. Efforts from Lolos, Charlie Barker, Richards and Geraldo Bajrami were all wide of the mark or easily saved. The best effort of the half fell to Ronan Darcy, who after some great work by Dion Pereira down the right crossed into Orsi, who laid it back to Darcy, but his effort struck the outside of the post and wide.
However, Crawley pressed on for an important equaliser, and with the final play of the game, Ronan Darcy found Jay Williams on the penalty spot and Williams’ header flew past Hemming to send the home fans home happy.
Crawley stayed in 21st position on 28 points from 34 games and now go to Oldham next Saturday.
Crawley Town player ratings:
Jacob Chapman – 7 – Nothing he could do about the goal, made a superb save from Armando Dobra when one-on-one which kept the score at 1-0.
Geraldo Bajrami – 6 – good in the middle of the back three but was caught out a few times. Booked on 85 minutes.
Charlie Barker - 7 – Another good game for Barker,bit defensively and going forward.
Lewis Richards – 6 – Looked ok until he was injured. Replaced by Johnny Russell on 27 minutes.
Justin Ferizaj – 7- Showed some promise, didn’t really do anything wrong. Replaced by Talyor Richards at half time.
Ade Adeyemo -6- Was under used in the first half but saw more of the ball in the second half. Replaced by Harry Forster on 65 minutes.
Jay Williams – 8 – Typical performance from the skipper, had an effort easily saved by Hemming. Came up clutch with a late header in injury time for the equaliser.
Kellan Gordon - 7 – Had a excellent game down the right, causing a few problems for their defence.
Klaidi Lolos – 7 – Had a better game today than previous, with plenty of efforts on goal. Replaced by Dion Pereira on 72 minutes.
Ronan Darcy – 7 – Had a better game today, making decent crosses into the area, hit the post on 78 minutes. His cross late in the game found Williams’ head for the equaliser.
Danilo Orsi - 7 - Another game without a goal but had an effort saved by Hemming in the first half.
Subs
Johnny Russell – 7 - Lewis Richards on 27 minutes. Did well when he came on, on the left side of the defence, but a deflection off him for their goal. Booked on 72 minutes.
Taylor Richards – 7 - Replaced Justin Ferizaj on 45 minutes. Was the creative spark in the second half.
Harry Forster – 7 - Replaced Ade Adeyemo on 65 minutes. Was quiet when he came on as most of the play came through Gordon.
Dion Pereira – 7 - Replaced Klaidi Lolos on 72 minutes. Created the best chance until the equaliser.
Unused Subs Akin Odimayo, Tobi Ademayo