Nick Sandamas sees Barnet draw one-all at Crawley

A sign outside Crawley Town FC's ground promoting their match with Barnet. — Credit – Nick Sandamas

Crawley Town 1 Barnet 1

A late penalty from Crawley Town’s Danilo Orsi denied Barnet all three points at Broadfield Stadium with manager Dean Brennan still watching from the stands.

The point ended the Bees’ two match losing run but the frustration could be heard amongst the fans at another game where they scored first and didn’t see the game through, this time against relegation-threatened opponents.

Anthony Hartigan was dropped to the bench with Mark Shelton replacing him in the only change from last time out.

However it was the struggling Red Devils (winless in eight) who had the first opportunity of the game in the fourth minute when a cross into the six yard box found Jay Williams, who struck the post before the ball came to him again and Mark Shelton got his body in the way to prevent a certain goal.

With ten minutes played, a half chance fell to the Bees but man of the season Adam Senior’s hurried effort went past the post.

Then two good chances for the Bees came just short of the half hour.

First, Ryan Glover had a shot which drifted wide, then former Red Devil Kabongo Tshimanga’s saw on loan keeper Jacob Chapman turn his effort round the post before the sides went in at half time still deadlocked.

The first sight of the target ten minutes into the second half produced the opener and it fell to the mid table Bees.

Great play on the left by Glover: he crossed the ball superbly for Senior in the six yard box to prod the ball across to Shelton who tapped in to give them the advantage.

Both sides then altered the game with changes from the bench but it was the Bees who almost got a second goal in what would have been in bizarre circumstances.

Chapman’s low kick from his area hit Callum Stead’s back but, to the relief of the custodian, the ball hit the outside of the post and went behind.

With the three points almost close, a moment of madness from Rhys Browne – a minute from normal time handed Crawley a spot kick: Kellan Gordon was taken out by Browne and, after a moment’s hesitation from the referee, he pointed to the spot.

Orsi kept his cool from 12 yards to slot the ball low to the keeper’s left for the leveller.

Then, as the Red Devils fought for the winner, they came close in stoppage time but keeper Ciaran Slicker kept out a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

The Bees held on for a point, the draw at least stopping the rot, but their recent bad results have put them further behind in their pursuit of the play offs.

They are on their travels again this Saturday with a much tougher task as they make the short journey up the M1 to face second placed MK Dons in a lunchtime showdown.

It will also be the last game Brennan will be absent from the touchline, probably a relief more than anything as the Bees’ form has suffered during his absence.

Team: Slicker, Collinge, Tavares, Senior, Crichlow, Glover (Assombalonga 80), Shelton, Ofoborh, Stead, Tshimanga (Hartigan 75), Kanu (Browne 80)

Subs not used: Evans, Hawkins, Howland, Chinedu

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