Crawley Town 3 Carlisle United 3: Smith's injury-time goal snatches Reds vital draw

Crawley Town skipper Jimmy Smith clinched his team a valuable point through a 90th minute goal in a 3-3 draw with Carlisle United.
Crawley Town's James Collins celebrates putting Reds ahead.
Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyCrawley Town's James Collins celebrates putting Reds ahead.
Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Crawley Town's James Collins celebrates putting Reds ahead. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

Reds took the lead in only the 11th minute in spectacular style when Collins smashed a brilliant shot from outside the area.

Collins then made it 2-0 after 26 minutes with a penalty kick.

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But Carlisle fought back to 2-2 at half-time with goals by Jabo Ibehre and former Reds striker Jamie Proctor.

Crawley Town fires in a brilliant opening goal from outside the area.
Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyCrawley Town fires in a brilliant opening goal from outside the area.
Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Crawley Town fires in a brilliant opening goal from outside the area. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

Reggie Lambe Carlisle then took the lead with what proved to be the winning goal after 59 minutes.

Finally just when it looked like the game was lost, Joe Mcnerney supplied Smith for a well-timed injury-time goal from ten yards.

Crawley fielded an unchanged side from the which lost 1-0 at Accrington Stanley last weekend.

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Josh Yorwerth and Matt Harrold returned to the bench after suspension and injury respectively.

Crawley Town goalkeeper Glenn Morris gets down to make a save to deny Carlisle's Jamie Proctor.
Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyCrawley Town goalkeeper Glenn Morris gets down to make a save to deny Carlisle's Jamie Proctor.
Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Crawley Town goalkeeper Glenn Morris gets down to make a save to deny Carlisle's Jamie Proctor. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

Carlisle had the first chance to score on nine mibutes when Jamie Devitt hot the post and skipper Danny Grainger went narrowly wide on the rebound.

Reds took the lead in glorious style just two minutes later when the ball came to Collins and he fired unstoppably into the top right hand corner of the net.

The visitors went immediately on the attack with Reggie Lambe shooting low but straight at keeper Glenn Morris.

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Moments later United were on target again as a cross was headed on goal by Proctor but the chance was again saved by Morris.

Crawley Town fires in a brilliant opening goal from outside the area.
Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyCrawley Town fires in a brilliant opening goal from outside the area.
Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Crawley Town fires in a brilliant opening goal from outside the area. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

Collins handed Crawley a 2-0 lead with only 26 minutes gone from the penalty spot.

After being brought down by Macaulay Gillesphey in the box, Collins stood up and calmly put away with a shot to the bottom right corner for his 22nd goal of the season.

Crawley had to make the first of two early substitutions forced by injury when Josh Yorwerth replaced central defender Mark Connolly.

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Carlisle pulled a goal back when a long ball over the top by skipper Danny Grainger was lifted over Morris by Jabo Ibehre.

Crawley Town goalkeeper Glenn Morris gets down to make a save to deny Carlisle's Jamie Proctor.
Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyCrawley Town goalkeeper Glenn Morris gets down to make a save to deny Carlisle's Jamie Proctor.
Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Crawley Town goalkeeper Glenn Morris gets down to make a save to deny Carlisle's Jamie Proctor. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

Reds made their second substitution after Morris, who was wearing a bandage on his head, went down and received treatment, and then came off, replaced by reserve keeper Yusuf Mersin.

Carlisle went into half-time level at 2-2 as Proctor headed his side back on to level terms from a cross from the right by Grainger.

Reds were first out of the blocks in the second half as Dean fired low from the left but Carlisle keeper Mark Gillespie saved.

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Carlilse completed their comeback by taking the lead when Proctor crossed from the left and Lambe put away from short-range.

Enzio Boldewijn set-up Josh Payne for a powerfully-hit speculative effort from 25 yards which was struck just inches wide.

Smith scored Crawley's thride to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat to the delight of the home fans.

REDS: Morris, Young, Payne, Connolly (Yorwerth 27), Boldewijn, Smith (capt), Blackman, Collins, McNerney, Djalo (Roberts 69), Cox

Unused subs: Harrold, Clifford, Lelan, Murphy

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CARLISLE: Gillespie, Grainger, Joyce, Raynes, Proctor (Tomlinson 75), Gillesphey, Ibehre, Bailey, Devitt (O'Sullivan 79), Lambe (Brisley 88), Liddle

Subs: Adams, Miller, Crocrombe, Nabi

REFEREE: Darren Deadman

ATTENDANCE: 2,003 (224 away)

CRAWLEY OBSERVER MAN OF THE MATCH:

James Collins