Match ends, Crawley Town 1, Notts County 1.
CrawleyCrawley Town1Notts CountyNotts County1
Notts County had Ben Barclay sent off as they threw away the lead in a draw at Crawley, which leaves them rooted to the bottom of League Two.
The Magpies went ahead through Craig Mackail-Smith early on, but Ashley Nathaniel-George levelled before half-time and Notts had defender Ben Barclay sent off early in the second period.
Notts boss Neal Ardley had said before the game that his side needed to win two of their three remaining games to stand a chance of preserving their English Football League status.
And the Magpies got a vital early lift when a throw-in from Mitch Rose released Matt Tootle and his cross was headed in from eight yards by Mackail-Smith.
But Crawley responded in the 19th minute, when Nathaniel-George equalised with a low shot from the edge of the area.
Jon Stead should have hit the target for County when firing wastefully over and Rose was also off target following a defensive error.
The Magpies began the second half in purposeful fashion and defender Barclay headed over a Michael Doyle free kick after 50 minutes.
Barclay, on loan from Brighton, was shown a straight red card four minutes later for a two-footed foul on Crawley skipper Dannie Bulman.
The visitors lived dangerously as Nathaniel-George had a shot parried before Reece Grego-Cox headed a Filipe Morais cross just wide.
Crawley had won their previous two games to ensure their own safety and top-scorer Ollie Palmer shot wide in the last minute as the scores finished level.
Notts County remain two points from safety with two games to play after Macclesfield and Yeovil both drew.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Crawley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Morris
- 2Young
- 5McNerney
- 17Dallison-Lisbon
- 16Maguire
- 22Morais
- 21Bulman
- 28Camara
- 15Nathaniel-George
- 9Palmer
- 11GambinSubstituted forGrego-Coxat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Doherty
- 7Grego-Cox
- 12Mersin
- 18Sesay
- 26Galach
- 33N'Gala
Notts County
Formation 4-3-3
- 27Schofield
- 2Tootle
- 6BarclayBooked at 54mins
- 18Stubbs
- 3Bird
- 26Rose
- 43Doyle
- 21O'Brien
- 28Mackail-SmithSubstituted forBoldewijnat 82'minutes
- 24MilsomBooked at 45mins
- 30SteadSubstituted forWardat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Fitzsimons
- 7Alessandra
- 8Vaughan
- 10Gomis
- 11Boldewijn
- 19Ward
- 33Dunn
- Referee:
- Graham Salisbury
- Attendance:
- 2,800
Match Stats
Home TeamCrawleyAway TeamNotts County
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away9
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Crawley Town 1, Notts County 1.
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Ollie Palmer (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Sam Stubbs (Notts County).
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Foul by Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town).
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Michael Doyle (Notts County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Ollie Palmer (Crawley Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Enzio Boldewijn (Notts County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Panutche Camara (Crawley Town).
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Foul by Ollie Palmer (Crawley Town).
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Elliott Ward (Notts County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Panutche Camara (Crawley Town).
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Enzio Boldewijn (Notts County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Notts County. Enzio Boldewijn replaces Craig Mackail-Smith.
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Foul by Panutche Camara (Crawley Town).
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Matt Tootle (Notts County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Lewis Young (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jim O'Brien (Notts County).
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Foul by Filipe Morais (Crawley Town).
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Robert Milsom (Notts County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
