Crawley Town cruise to 9-0 victory against Billingshurst

Played out infront of around 300 spectators at Jubilee Fields, Reds fans saw most of their new summer signings in action plus 11 trialists.

They were: Manshester Utd player Ashley Young’s brother Lewis, Manchester Utd and Portugal winger Nani’s cousin Rico Gomez former Notts County and Derby County defender Dean Leacock.

The others were: Johnny Marsden (ex-Shrewsbury), Bodson Bawling (ex-Watford), Emmet O’Connor (Canadian midfielder), goalkeeper Chad Collins (ex-Bournemouth), Simon Heslop (ex-Stevenage), Jake Kempton (ex-Wolves striker), Ryan Noble (ex-Burnley) and Craig Robson (Bognor).

First half goals by Matt Harrold, Conor Henderson (2), Young and O’Connor were added to after the break with further goals by Izale McLeod, Jake Kempton, O’Connor again and Ryan Noble.

Harrold headed Crawley into the lead on 20 minutes when he nodded home O’Connor’s cross.

Billingshurst keeper Tom Betts denied Jimmy Smith and Johnny Marsden before Reds really dominated with four goals in four minutes.

Henderson curled a free-kick from the right-hand edge of the box into the top corner before Henderson supplied Young for a goal from short-range.

Young then lifted a cross over the keeper for O’Connor to net their fourth before Henderson went on a run and added a fifth.

Before half-time Kempton and Gomez came on.

Crawley fielded a completely different second-half line-up with goalkeeper Chad Collins, midfielder Simon Heslop and defender Craig Robson getting a run-out along with Josh Simpson, Lanre Oyebanjo, Ryan Dickson, Sonny Bradley and Izale McLeod.

Simpson had a chance kept out by Andy Barr before Crawley made it 6-0 when Oyebanjo ran down the right and provided Izale McLeod a tap-in goal.

On the hour Dickson set up Kempton for a fine finish for 7-0.

Ryan Noble came on for Kempson and Gomez was replaced by Bradley Isaacs.

Noble ran through to set up O’Connor for Reds’ eighth from short-range on 67 minutes.

Noble headed in a cross by Bradley Isaacs before Barr denied McLeod and Simpson with some great goalkeeping.

Crawley Town:

First half: Brian Jensen, Bodson Bawling, Ryan Richefond, Dean Leacock, Joe Walsh (capt), Emmet O’Connor, Jimmy Smith, Conor Henderson, Lewis Young (Rico Gomez 42), Matt Harrold, Johnny Marsden (Jake Kempson 35).

Second half: Chad Collins, Lanre Oyebanjo, Ryan Dickson, Sonny Bradley, Craig Robson, Josh Simpson, Simon Heslop, Rico Gomez (Bradley Isaacs 60), Izale McLeod, Jake Kempton (Ryan Noble 56).

Billingshurst:

First half: Tom Betts, Mark Barnard, James Lovett, Alex Kirk, Steve Dixon, James Day (capt), Nick Tilley, Lee Thomas, Ben Brooker, Joe Ranson, Ryan Taylor

Second half: Andy Burr, Mark Barnard, James Lovett, Tom Agate, Ollie Lambkin, Russ Curtiss, Ollie Leslie, Keiran Greig, Ben Brooker, Joe Ranson