New boy nets late winner in Green victory

BOTH sides squandered numerous chances in front of a large holiday crowd before Crawley Green’s new signing James McCarthy secured the points with an 87th-minute winner as the Maroons won 1-0 at Cranfield United in Molten Spartan SML Division One on Tuesday.

Cranfield bossed the opening with Alex Baker and Jack Leadbetter both having shots saved by Dean Bull in the Crawley goal.

Crawley responded with a header from Ian Mackenzie-Tyne which was scrambled clear.

Robbie O’Dell went clear for the visitors on 19 minutes, but Daniel Green saved well for Cranfield.

End-to-end action continued with Green saving a point-blank shot from Gary Capehorn and minutes later Bull saved well from Nathan Peacock.

Green then denied Stuart Strange and Matt Baldry in quick succession, while Cranfield went close through Sam Evans, but amazingly the game finished 0-0 at the break.

Crawley bossed the opening of the second half with Jamie Warne and Nicky Nolan both going close.

A Warne corner hit the inside of the post on 52 minutes and the ball was scrambled clear, while minutes later O’Dell shot wide.

On the hour O’Dell pulled the ball back for MacKenzie-Tyne, but he could only hit the post from a yard out and three minutes later Lee Hayward headed wide from a James Dickson cross.

Cranfield had a strong claim for a penalty turned down with 14 minutes to play and a minute later Capehorn went close for Crawley.

The excitement continued with a goal-line clearance from Nolan followed by a fine save by Bull to deny Peacock.

With time running out Chris Harvey launched a long throw into the box and the ball broke for McCarthy to rifle home and secure the points for Crawley.

This Monday Crawley entertain New Bradwell St Peter in the league.