Ex-Shrewsbury star Collins scores brace on Crawley Town debut

Collins wasted no time in getting on the scoresheet, having joined the club on Monday, he netted twice in the first 11 minutes.

Reds added three more goals before half-time by Jason Roberts from 25 yards, Josh Payne and Jason Banton.

Crawley Town made nine changes at the start of the second half, including several trialists as Three Bridges upped their game and did not concede any more goals after the break.

Reds included their new signings in the first half plus trialists Andre Blackman, a former Spurs and Chelsea player and former QPR player Addison Garnett.

Dermot Drummy’s side stormed into the lead in the third minue when Jason Banton had a shot, the ball was parried by keeper Kieron Thorp into the path of James Collins, who made sure of netting the loose ball.

Crawley then made it 2-0 on just eight minutes through the unlikelest of scorers: defender Lanre Oyebanjo blasting into the top corner.

Reds then raced to 3-0 from a corner kick which was ably headed home by the unmarked Collins for his second goal of the game.

Bridges then started to put together some useful moves themselves as Allan Tait (twice) and Tony Garrod lifted chances over the bar.

Reds notched their fourth goal on 33 minutes with a cracking strike by Roberts from 25 yards.

Josh Payne then added a fifth goal from an angle at the second attempt.

Banton brought the scoreline up to 6-0 moments before half-time with a mazy run and a fine side-footed finish.

At the start of the second half Crawley made nine changes, keeping on Collins and Garnett.

Trialists Rylan Myers, Charlie Gregory, ex-Chelsea player Billy Clifford and Diego Hoffman were among the second half line-up.

Clifford went close with a terrific effort from 25 yards which hit the crossbar.

Collins came off after an hour and was replaced by first half player Boldewijn who came back for a second stint.

He gave an exciting glimpse of what he can do with an audacious 25-yard shot which which went narrowly wide.

Bridges held out and managed to keep Crawley’s professionals at bay without conceding in the second half.

REDS: 1st half - Yusuf Mersin, Lanre Oyebanjo, Andre Blackman, Josh Payne, Addison Garnett, Mark Connolly, Enzio Boldewijn, Jimmy Smith (Capt), James Collins, Jason Banton, Jordan Roberts

2nd half - Mitchell Beeney, Rylan Myers, Joe McNerney, Addison Garnett, Chris Arthur, Aryan Tajbakhsh, Charlie Gregory, Lewis Young, Billy Clifford, Diego Hoffman, James Collins (Enzio Boldewijn 60mins)

Bridges: Kieron Thorp, John Lansdale, Matt Whitehead, Jamie Crellin, Callum Donaghey, Drew Cooney, Tom Bold, Steve Sargent, Allan Tait, Tony Garrod, Devon Fender

Subs: Abu Touray, Martin Grant, Alfie Jones, Hakeem Adelakun, Jack Rollings, Cody Green, Dan Mobsby, Mark Pulling, Ben Godfrey, Mitch Casselman, Dan Webster

Attendance: 389

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