Defeat to Brentford ends Crawley Town's Jersey Mike's Trophy interest
Crawley Town’s miserable season continued with a home defeat to Brentford U21s – and an exit from the Jersey Mike’s Trophy.
Two goals from Domeiro Bobb-Semple, one in each half, put the Bees 2-0 up and a late debut goal for Connor Wickham wasn’t enough for the home side.
Reds fans might have hoped this compeition – which brought a big win over Bromley last month – could again lift some of the gloom surrounding the club during a poor first half of the season.
But just two days after their embarrassing FA Cup exit at Wimborne Town, it was another setback for interim boss Kevin Blackwell and his players.
Blackwell made 10 changes from that performance at the weekend against Wimborne. Only Vito Mannone kept his place, and new signing Ayman Benarous started the game, with the other new face Wickham starting on the bench.
In a fairly even first half, both sides played some good flowing football. However, it was the Bees who took the lead on 27 minutes. Omari Mrisho slipped in the penalty area, allowing Luca Picotto to cross, and then a bit of miscommunication between Ben Heneghan and Mannone allowed Bobb-Semple to tap into an empty net at the near post.
The Reds did have a couple of shots that were on target but neither of them really troubled Bees keeper Reggie Rose, as a couple of Pemi Aderoju headers were easily saved. Brentford also hit the outside of the post from a diving Isaac Holland header on 17 minutes.
Brentford started the second half the better, and it was only two minutes old when Mrisho fouled Luca Picotto in the box and referee Sunny Gill pointed to the spot. However, Isaac Holland hit the upright and the ball bounced away from danger.
It was soon 2-0 when yet another Mrisho error allowed Gustavo Gomez the space to pick out Bobb-Semple to fire home for his second goal of the night. The game settled down a little after that flurry of action.
Rose in the Brentford goal had to make a couple of saves, one from an Aderoju header, and he got a hand to a Klaudio Krasniqi shot, which was possibly going over anyway. Riley Owen fired a shot straight at Mannone midway through the second half.
Crawley’s other new signing, Wickham, managed to open his account for the Reds with a late penalty after Malcolm Ebowei was fouled in the box, to make it 2-1, but it wasn’t enough to put Crawley through.
Crawley now have 10 days off – their planned league game with Rotherham this weekend is postponed due to international call ups. The Reds next game is Fleetwood Town at home on November 21.