Crawley found themselves at the wrong end of the scoreline once again yesterday evening as they fell to a 0-3 loss at the hands of playoff candidates Cambridge United.

Match Report:

Crawley boss Scott Lindsey made a triple change to the side that fell to defeat against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

Lewis Richards made his first start for in a Reds shirt coming in for the injured Jonny Russell, who came off against Crewe with pain in his groin. Harry Forster replaced Kellan Gordon and Akin Odimayo returned in place of Charlie Barker on the right side of Crawley’s back three.

A golden opportunity fell the way of Crawley within the opening minute of play as Jay Williams picked up a loose ball before nodding it towards Harry McKirdy, who cleverly flicked it onto Danilo Orsi.

The Crawley striker took a touch to set himself before unleashing a strike from just 18-yard box, however the Wembley goalscorer’s effort caused nothing more than a routine save from Jake Eastwood in the Cambridge goal, who comfortably parried the ball away to safety.

McKirdy headed wide from close range after getting the angle all wrong following a great ball in from Orsi with 39 minutes of play and arguably Crawley’s best chance of the half.

Crawley were made to rue their missed opportunities when a neat passage of play from the U’s just before half time led to James Gibbons delivering a delightful ball to an unmarked Shane McLoughlin at the far post, who used the pace on the cross to volley the ball home and into the bottom right corner.

Cambridge missed an excellent opportunity to make it two early on into the second 45.

The Crawley backline were caught out by a long ball over the top from Gibbons as striker Louis Appere was able to get on the end of the lofted ball into the channel. He then drove at the Crawley defence before squaring the ball to teamate Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who had both time and space to pick his spot but was unable to convert a seemlingly goalbound prospect as Crawley keeper Jacob Chapman was alert to rush off his line a pull off an important save to keep Crawley in the game.

Crawley were close to finding an equaliser through defender Josh Flint on 65 minutes as the Crawley defender had found himself in the Cambridge box after making an bounding run towards the U’s defensive line. The ball was shifted out towards substitute Kellan Gordon, who delivered an teasing ball, which was met by Flint but his headed effort flew just wide of the post.

Cambridge increased the deficit to two goals when they broke quickly through some great footwork from Kelland Watts who played in a through ball into Mpanzu who had yards of space ahead of him.

The former Luton man drove into the box before cutting it back to substitute striker Shayne Lavery who was in the centre of the 18-yard box. His touch was a behind him which forced him into playing another pass onto Sullay Kaiki who made no mistake and slotted into the bottom left corner.

To add more misery to Crawley’s evening Cambridge went and made it three deep into injury time after Lavery was able to free himself from the corner flag before Liam Bennett picked up the ball and drove into Crawley’s box before playing into substitute Kaikai who claimed a brace.

Crawley remain in 20th on 26 points as they were one of just two League Two games on yesterday evening.

Crawley’s match yesterday evening was one of their games in hand and now they find themselves in a precarious position with Newport County five points off the Reds with two games in hand on Lindsey’s side and likewise with Barrow who are two points behind Crawley with two games in hand.

Shrewsbury Town, who were part of the second match of League Two last night, won 2-1 won against Barrow which leaves them in 21st and level on points with Crawley and with a game in hand on the Reds.

Article: by Asa Finch/@k1ck_by_k1ck

Picture: Grant Mansfield/@mansfieldmedia