JON-PAUL Pittman and Pierre Joseph-Dubois were injury absentees, as was Ryan Hall following a bicycle crash in which he sustained an injury to his face.

Grays Athletic fielded former Reds player and Crawley born Jamie Taylor up front, who is currently on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge.

Reds' midfielder Tyrone Thompson gave a true captain's display in an unfamiliar role as a striker, partnering Jamie Cook up front.

And the gamble paid off as he adapted to the different position well and tested goalkeeper Nicky Eyre with some decent attempts on goal.

The game began slowly from Crawley's point of view with only two memorable chances coming in the first half, which was largely dominated by the in-form Essex club.

Thompson produced a good crossfield run in the 11th minute and kept his shot from 25 yards low to force Eyre to make an awkward save.

And on the half hour Glenn Murphy hit the crossbar with a looping shot he did well to control.

Grays should have gone into the break with a lead after a series of attacks which Reds were lucky to survive.

Danny Kedwell, who was the main danger to Crawley when Town lost to Grays on their travels last month, inspired a terrific save by Ashley Bayes in only the second minute with a dipping volley.

Michael Standing and Stuart Thurgood, from a free-kick, both went wide with powerful shots as they bombarded the Reds' penalty area.

However Jamie Taylor had the best chance to put the visitors ahead when he chested down a cross, turned, but somehow lifted his shot over the bar while unmarked in the six-yard box.

Crawley looked altogether more purposeful during the second half and took the lead after just 30 seconds of the restart when Carayol made a break down the left, checked and buried a delightful shot into the bottom of the net.

Town were the dominant force after this and despite their absences up front, managed to produce some attacking pressure as Thompson, Dannie Bulman, Jamie Cook and Thomas Pinault all had chances to score, without luck.

Grays came into the match on an unbeaten run and were not prepared to roll over, getting themselves back into the game with an equaliser by Jeff Goulding with five minutes left on the clock.

It was a well-worked goal set up by a cheeky back-heel by substitute Scott Taylor into the path of Goulding, who launched an unstoppable strike.

But the action wasn't finished yet as two minutes later Grays' skipper Jamie Stuart was sent-off for a professional foul on Jamie Cook when he was through for a chance on goal.

However he gained justice when he scored the 87th-minute winner with a superbly-taken free-kick.


REDS:Bayes, Stevens, Thompson (c), Blackburn, Bulman, Wilson, Pinault, Cook, Murphy, Krause, Carayol
Subs: Thomas, Hall, Carter, Nayee, Raynor

GRAYS:Eyre, Gross, Stuart (c), Downer, Thurgood, O'Connor, J.Taylor, Kedwell, Ashton, Cogan, Standing
Subs: Goulding, S.Taylor, Whincup, McCafferty, Saunders

Referee:Simon Hooper (Swindon)
Attendance:755 (92 away)
Observer Man-of-the-match:Tyrone Thompson

Updates:

Second half (0-0)

46mins - GOAL (Crawley) 1-0 Mustapha CARAYOL scores with a shot into the bottom left hand corner with his right foot from a breakaway attack through the middle just 30 seconds after the restart.

57mins - YELLOW CARD (Grays) Simon Downer is booked for a late tackle on Carayol. Players gather round and there is some pushing. YELLOW CARD (Crawley) Glenn Wilson.

62mins - Tyrone Thompson has a shot from the edge of the area and keeps the ball low and forces Eyre to make a save.

64mins - Dannie Bulman blasts a decent shot wide from 25 yards after receiving the ball from Jamie Cook.

66mins SUBSTITUTION (Grays) Jeff Goulding replaces Barry Cogan.

70mins - SUBSTITUTION (Grays) Neil McCafferty replaces Michael Standing.

74mins - A long passing move ends with a cross from the right wing by Glenn Wilson which found Jamie Cook upfront but he could not control his header and the ball flew over.

78mins - SUBSTITUTION (Grays) Scott Taylor replaces Danny Kedwell.

81mins - Thomas Pinault shoots wide of the post.

85mins - GOAL (Grays) 1-1 Jeff GOULDING buries the ball into the back of the net following an audacious back-heel by Scott Taylor.

87mins - RED CARD (Grays) Jon Ashton is sent-off for a professional foul on Jamie Cook when he was just outside the penalty area but was through for an attempt on goal.

87mins - GOAL (Crawley) 2-1 Jamie COOK gains justice for being fouled by scoring directly from the ensuing free-kick with a brilliantly taken shot.

90mins SUBSTITUTION (Crawley) Brad Thomas replaces Lee Blackburn.

Full-Time: Crawley Town 2 Grays Athletic 1




First half

2mins - Grays have the first attack and force a great save from Ashley Bayes when Danny Kedwell hits a dipping volley from the left flank and Bayes makes a diving save.

3mins - Grays go on the attack again when Michael Standing shoots wide.

11mins - Tyrone Thompson is playing up front with Jamie Cook and goes close with Crawley's first attack from 25 yards but is denied by Grays' keeper Nicky Eyre.

14mins - Grays' Crawley lad Jamie Taylor somehow misses from six yards while unmarked, chesting down a cross but firing over the crossbar.

16mins - Grays are not far off the mark from a free-kick taken by Stuart Thurgood which flies wide of the right hand post.

19mins - YELLOW CARD (Grays) Captain Jamie Stuart is booked for a foul on Thompson.

32mins - Kieran Murphy shows good technique to get an attempt on goal - a long looping shot on the turn which has Eyre back-pedalling before it bounced off the top of the crossbar and flew out of play.

35mins - Grays' Aaron O'Connor has a powerful drive at goal blocked by Murphy.

45mins - Grays have an excellent breakaway attack with Barry Cogan flying down the left flank. He crosses for Kedwell whose shot from just outside the area streaks narrowly off-target.

45mins - 2 mins of added time

Half-time: Crawley Town 0 Grays Athletic 0