Match ends, Crawley Town 2, Bristol Rovers 1.
CrawleyCrawley Town2Bristol RoversBristol Rovers1
Two early goals from striker Rhys Murphy helped Crawley to a 2-1 victory against Bristol Rovers - their fourth home win in a row.
Oldham loanee Murphy poked in after Gwion Edwards' cross bobbled around in the box, and a minute later struck a second from 25 yards past Lee Nicholls.
Darryl Flahavan protected the lead with smart saves from Rovers defender Tom Parkes and striker Ellis Harrison.
Matty Taylor's late penalty gave Rovers hope, but Crawley clung on.
Crawley Town boss Mark Yates told BBC Surrey:
"We knew it was going to be tough but we started brilliantly.
"Thoroughly deserved the half-time lead against the wind but it's a 90-minute game and that's all I am worried about.
"They were throwing caution to the wind and it didn't matter if we played two up or three up top and they tried overloading us. We made sure we were more solid."
Line-ups
Crawley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Flahavan
- 14Young
- 25YorwerthBooked at 62mins
- 6Bradley
- 24Hancox
- 20Deacon
- 4Walton
- 8SmithBooked at 17mins
- 7EdwardsSubstituted forAshtonat 88'minutes
- 18HarroldSubstituted forRooneyat 70'minutes
- 39MurphySubstituted forBarnardat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Scales
- 9Barnard
- 10Rooney
- 12Preston
- 15Fenelon
- 16Ashton
- 22Jenkins
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-4-2
- 31Nicholls
- 3BrownBooked at 43mins
- 5McChrystalSubstituted forLockyerat 45'minutesBooked at 82mins
- 6Parkes
- 10Taylor
- 14Lines
- 15J ClarkeSubstituted forGoslingat 76'minutes
- 17Easter
- 21MontañoSubstituted forHarrisonat 45'minutes
- 23Bodin
- 24Sinclair
Substitutes
- 1Mildenhall
- 2Leadbitter
- 4Lockyer
- 7Mansell
- 8O Clarke
- 9Harrison
- 11Gosling
- Referee:
- Trevor Kettle
- Attendance:
- 2,612
Match Stats
Home TeamCrawleyAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crawley Town 2, Bristol Rovers 1.
Post update
Sonny Bradley (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers).
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Foul by Lee Barnard (Crawley Town).
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Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Jake Gosling (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Foul by Lee Barnard (Crawley Town).
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James Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Jon Ashton replaces Gwion Edwards.
Goal!
Goal! Crawley Town 2, Bristol Rovers 1. Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
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Penalty conceded by Mitch Hancox (Crawley Town) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty Bristol Rovers. Billy Bodin draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Attempt blocked. Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Lee Barnard replaces Rhys Murphy.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Lewis Young.
Booking
Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Roarie Deacon (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sonny Bradley (Crawley Town) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
