Match ends, Crawley Town 1, Oxford United 5.
CrawleyCrawley Town1Oxford UtdOxford United5
Oxford United came from a goal behind to thump Crawley and strengthen their League Two promotion challenge.
Joe McNerney put the hosts ahead before Chris Maguire equalised with his first league goal for the U's.
Callum O'Dowda's neat finish and Liam Sercombe's looped effort put Oxford in the driving seat.
The visitors secured the win as Maguire smashed home a penalty after he was brought down by Simon Walton before George Waring fired home a fifth.
The result leaves Oxford in second place, four points clear of fourth-placed Bristol Rovers with just five games remaining, whilst Crawley sit comfortably in 17th.
Crawley Town manager Mark Yates told BBC Surrey:
"It's a frustrating game really. I thought we were great first-half and but for a mistake that Sonny Bradley's been unlucky that he tried to keep the ball in and we got punished for it.
"But the second half was not good enough. We talk about goals changing games and once the second one went in, I think you saw a little bit of negativity creeping in and we didn't deal with situations.
"I think we have Jack Rose to thank it wasn't a couple more. That's the most frustrating we can go from being so good to being so thick."
Line-ups
Crawley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Rose
- 2Oyebanjo
- 5McNerney
- 25Yorwerth
- 6Bradley
- 7Edwards
- 4WaltonSubstituted forSmithat 72'minutes
- 24SutherlandBooked at 79minsSubstituted forBondat 87'minutes
- 30Della Verde
- 21Tomlin
- 18HarroldSubstituted forFenelonat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Smith
- 9Barnard
- 12Preston
- 15Fenelon
- 20Deacon
- 22Bond
- 31Dunne
Oxford Utd
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Buchel
- 5Mullins
- 16Kenny
- 33Dunkley
- 36Evans
- 11MacDonald
- 8Sercombe
- 14RuffelsSubstituted forAshbyat 81'minutes
- 15O'DowdaBooked at 48minsSubstituted forRobertsat 75'minutes
- 28Maguire
- 10HyltonSubstituted forWaringat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Slocombe
- 4Roofe
- 6Wright
- 7Waring
- 17Giles
- 24Ashby
- 31Roberts
- Referee:
- Nick Kinseley
- Attendance:
- 3,340
Match Stats
Home TeamCrawleyAway TeamOxford Utd
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away11
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crawley Town 1, Oxford United 5.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Liam Sercombe (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Jonjoe Kenny.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jimmy Smith (Crawley Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Jordan Evans.
Post update
James Roberts (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Lanre Oyebanjo (Crawley Town).
Post update
Delay in match (Oxford United).
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Andy Bond replaces Frankie Sutherland.
Goal!
Goal! Crawley Town 1, Oxford United 5. George Waring (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner. Assisted by Alexander MacDonald.
Post update
Foul by Cheyenne Dunkley (Oxford United).
Post update
Gwion Edwards (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Joe McNerney.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Oxford United. Josh Ashby replaces Josh Ruffels because of an injury.
Booking
Frankie Sutherland (Crawley Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Josh Ruffels (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Frankie Sutherland (Crawley Town).
Post update
Attempt saved. Gavin Tomlin (Crawley Town) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
