Crawley Town 1-1 Notts County

Notts County were founder members of the Football League in 1888 but could drop into non-league for the first time in their history

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
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Crawley

• 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

• 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

Posted at

Match ends, Crawley Town 1, Notts County 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Crawley Town 1, Notts County 1.

Posted at 90'+5'

Ollie Palmer (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+5'

Foul by Sam Stubbs (Notts County).

Posted at 90'+5'

Foul by Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town).

Posted at 90'+5'

Michael Doyle (Notts County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Ollie Palmer (Crawley Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 88'

Enzio Boldewijn (Notts County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Panutche Camara (Crawley Town).

Posted at 86'

Foul by Ollie Palmer (Crawley Town).

Posted at 86'

Elliott Ward (Notts County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Panutche Camara (Crawley Town).

Posted at 84'

Enzio Boldewijn (Notts County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 82'

Substitution, Notts County. Enzio Boldewijn replaces Craig Mackail-Smith.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Panutche Camara (Crawley Town).

Posted at 82'

Matt Tootle (Notts County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Lewis Young (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Jim O'Brien (Notts County).

Posted at 78'

Foul by Filipe Morais (Crawley Town).

Posted at 78'

Robert Milsom (Notts County) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 77'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 77'

Delay in match Robert Milsom (Notts County) because of an injury.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town).

Posted at 76'

Robert Milsom (Notts County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 75'

Corner, Notts County. Conceded by Joe McNerney.

Posted at 73'

Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Jim O'Brien.

Posted at 70'

Attempt missed. Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town) header from very close range misses to the left.

Posted at 69'

Attempt saved. Ashley Nathaniel-George (Crawley Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 68'

Ashley Nathaniel-George (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Mitch Rose (Notts County).

Posted at 63'

Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Pierce Bird.

Posted at 62'

Attempt blocked. Ollie Palmer (Crawley Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 61'

Attempt blocked. Joe Maguire (Crawley Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 60'

Attempt missed. Jim O'Brien (Notts County) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

Substitution

Posted at 56'

Substitution, Notts County. Elliott Ward replaces Jon Stead.

Substitution

Posted at 55'

Substitution, Crawley Town. Reece Grego-Cox replaces Luke Gambin.

Dismissal

Posted at 54'

Ben Barclay (Notts County) is shown the red card for violent conduct.

Posted at 54'

Dannie Bulman (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 54'

Foul by Ben Barclay (Notts County).

Posted at 52'

Delay in match Panutche Camara (Crawley Town) because of an injury.

Show more updates