Match ends, Hednesford Town 1, Crawley Town 2.
Hednesford TownHednesford Town1CrawleyCrawley Town2
Crawley scraped past Conference North leaders Hednesford Town to reach the second round of the FA Cup.
Josh Simpson hit a Hednesford post before Ben Bailey and Jamey Osborne missed chances for the home side.
Darren Campion deflected Nicky Adams's cross into his own net to put the visitors in front, but Elliott Durrell levelled from the spot after Mat Sadler brought down Osborne.
But Emile Sinclair converted another Adams cross to put the Reds through.
Richie Barker's League One side have now reached the second round for the fourth consecutive season and ended a four-game losing run.
But they were made to work for victory by a team 60 places below them in the football pyramid and beaten just once all season.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Crawley Town manager Richie Barker told BBC Surrey:
"It wasn't the most attractive game to watch but we came here to do a job and we've done that.
"We are where we want to be which is in front of the TV tomorrow afternoon watching the second-round draw.
"The more they threw at us the more we had to throw back at them and it took us a while to get into the way we wanted to play. But that was never going to be easy here but what pleased me was the physical way we played.
"We do know that we've changed our mindset and we should get some belief from that."
Line-ups
Hednesford Town
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Crane
- 2Disney
- 3CampionSubstituted forReyat 78'minutes
- 6Taylor
- 5Francis
- 4Bailey
- 7Osborne
- 11Thompson-BrownSubstituted forMelbourneat 59'minutes
- 9Harvey
- 10LennonSubstituted forRileyat 75'minutes
- 8Durrell
Substitutes
- 12Melbourne
- 14Riley
- 15Rey
- 16Woolfe
- 17Anagho-Ntamark
Crawley
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Jones
- 2Hurst
- 3Sadler
- 15Bulman
- 4Connolly
- 12Walsh
- 16Adams
- 11Simpson
- 14ProctorSubstituted forAlexanderat 80'minutes
- 21JonesSubstituted forSinclairat 80'minutes
- 10DrurySubstituted forMcFadzeanat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
- 5McFadzean
- 6Essam
- 8Torres
- 9Alexander
- 18Rooney
- 20Sinclair
- 25Maddison
- Referee:
- Michael Bull
- Attendance:
- 2,231
Match Stats
Home TeamHednesford TownAway TeamCrawley
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home22
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hednesford Town 1, Crawley Town 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gary Alexander (Crawley Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kyle McFadzean following a fast break.
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Attempt missed. Neil Harvey (Hednesford Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Francino Francis with a headed pass.
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Offside, Hednesford Town. Daniel Crane tries a through ball, but Ben Bailey is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Kyle McFadzean replaces Andy Drury.
Post update
Offside, Hednesford Town. Elliott Durrell tries a through ball, but Neil Harvey is caught offside.
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Neil Harvey (Hednesford Town) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.
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Attempt saved. Francino Francis (Hednesford Town) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie Osborne with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Andy Drury (Crawley Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emile Sinclair.
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Corner, Hednesford Town. Conceded by Joe Walsh.
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Attempt missed. Neil Harvey (Hednesford Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
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Mark Connolly (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aaron Rey (Hednesford Town).
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Foul by Nicky Adams (Crawley Town).
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John Disney (Hednesford Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Hednesford Town 1, Crawley Town 2. Emile Sinclair (Crawley Town) left footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Nicky Adams with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by John Disney.
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Nicky Adams (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by John Disney (Hednesford Town).
