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City's disappointing start to the season took another turn for the worse as they produced a toothless performance that handed their opponents Crawley Town a victory every bit as comfortable as the 3-0 scoreline suggests. In fact, the Sussex side hardly looked like world beaters but did sufficient to snuff out what little threat City produced and, when handed openings by woeful City defending, were clinical enough in front of goal. Manager Alan Pridham again tinkered with his midfield, bringing in new signing Jeff MacLean and Jamie Mills for James Zabek and Gary Powell, but it was in this area that City looked desperately short of ideas, leaving front men Paul Milsom and Adrian Foster with little or no ammunition. City could have found themselves behind as early as the fifth minute when the home side won a penalty. In what was a sign of things to come Bagnall ran clear of the City back line only to be felled by the outrushing Hervin. However, the keeper redeemed himself, diving to his right to save Harlow's spot kick. Crawley didn't let this mistake deter them and for the next twenty minutes virtually camped in the City half. Time and time again they opened up City's overworked defence but a combination of poor finishing and desperate defending kept the scores level until the 28th minute. Ironically the goal came after City had produced a rare attack to win a corner. Wyatt's centre was cleared as far as Kemp, but his attempt to return the ball to Wyatt was intercepted by Waugh. He fed Bagnall who, in turn, released Brake and he rounded Hervin before rolling the ball into the net. Following the goal Crawley appeared to sit back and City finally began to come into the game. On the stroke of half time they almost grabbed an equaliser. Another Wyatt corner found Thorne but his goalbound header was cleared off the line by Brake. The interval saw Pridham replace Thomas with Allison, Milsom dropping back into midfield, and for the opening ten minutes City held the upper hand. However, debutant keeper Hateley's goal was never really threatened and two goals in as many minutes around the hour mark ended any hopes of a comeback. And again it was poor defending from the visitors that handed the Reds their goals. First, Kemp and Wyatt contrived to give the ball away down the right flank, allowing Waugh to find Bagnall in City's box. His shot was parried by Hervin but the ball fell kindly for Harlow who made no mistake from 12 yards. And two minutes later Kemp completed an unwanted treble as his poor clearance fell to Bagnall. He had ample time to find Waugh who fired past the stranded Hervin with ease. City brought on Powell and Gosling in a vain attempt to find a consolation goal but they never even came close to breaking their away day goal duck, with only a couple more saves from Hervin preventing an even more embarrassing reversal. |
