League Two, Saturday 30 March, 3pm Globe Arena.

Att – 2445 with 47 away.

Roche c Mills Lavelle Old  Conlan Kenyon Wildig Oates Mingoia Bennett Collins subs used Fleming for Kenyon 62, Mandeville for Oates 62, Ellison for Bennett 75

Creepy – Morris Young McNerny Dallison Maguire Nathaniel-George Bulman c Camara Morais Grego-Cox Palmer subs used Sesay for N-George 64, Francomb for Camara 72, German for Morais 82.

Ref – Eddie Ilderton, did Ok, let the game flow when he could.

Weather – Sunny and cloudy, for a change, no wind.

After two forgettable away days, the bore draw at Notts County and the soon to be forgotten 4-0 reverse at a handy Swindon, we returned to the Globe looking to achieve something we have never done under Jim Bentley and win three home league games on the bounce. Crawley were not in great form themselves, a series of recent defeats plunging them just one place above us but having seemingly done enough to stay up.

Jim opted to make only one change, Halstead a little unlucky to be placed on the bench to allow Baz to return between the sticks. The game opened brightly with both sides playing some neat football without any final outcome. Grego-Cox had the closest attempt all afternoon for the visitors, arching an overhead kick into the bar and over in the first half. Meanwhile we found the two banks of four hard to break down, Crawley being probably the first team all season coming to the Globe NOT to lose, they played a very high defensive line and our passing was off for long periods as we undercut, overhit or had killer passes intercepted. The frustration was palpable at half time as Crawley had been the better side without asserting themselves unduly.

We came out with little more vigour in the second period, but still our passing and reactions to any loose balls was a little slow. Jim made two changes early on and effectively these changes won us the points. Mandeville replaced Oates and Fleming gave us more creativity replacing Kenyon. Mandeville weaved past three down the left but his cross was dealt with, but the crowd woke up. Ellison replaced the out of sorts Bennett and chased down lost causes which again brought the crowd to life. Crawley dropped deeper and deeper, happy for a point, Mandeville having a chance to shoot, he laid it off but Mingoia whose shot was blocked, Mills swept up the loose ball and made ground into the box and crossed for Mandeville to head powerfully past the stranded Morris.

It didn’t seem likely that either side would score, but the one decent bit of quality in the game lead to the winning goal.

It was a game instantly forgotten, however it’s also the kind of game that we would and did lose in the past. So we win three home games in a row and leapfrog Crawley in the table, with 45 points, a win at Macc will guarantee our survival just about. A Quick word about the parents and children who swelled the crowd on the Community Sports day, lets hope they enjoyed the experience and pop back very soon. well done Community Sports.

Freez