CRAWLEY Town were denied by a dramatic late equaliser as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Plymouth Arygle today.
A Pablo Mills goal shortly before half time looked to have given the Reds all three points and put them on course to a return to the top of League 2, but when Maxime Blanchard struck in stoppage time, Crawley had to be content with a share of the spoils.
The home side had made a terrific start as Ashley Hemmings’ run was halted illegally on the edge of the box in the opening 30 seconds, and after Reds failed to clear the danger from the free kick, Warren Feeney hooked a shot wide. In a pulsating start to the game, Kyle McFadzean and Tyrone Barnett had shots blocked, while Sergio Torres earned a booking after he sent Feeney sprawling. Hemmings proved his threat again after a quarter of an hour, skipping past David Hunt before his low cross was cleared at the near post by Dean Howell.
Reds played with the wind at their backs in the first half, and when one of Hunt’s long throws was carried on the breeze, Matt Tubbs’ acrobatic volley flew over, and seconds later McFadzean’s low drive was deflected inches wide of the post.
It took 26 minutes for the first save of the game, as Tubbs swivelled six yards out and saw his shot blocked by Jake Cole, and as the Reds kept the pressure on with a Torres cross, new Plymouth signing Darren Purse sliced just over his own bar. Scott Shearer was called into action five minutes later, when Hemmings attempted a long range volley, and it was comfortable for the Crawley stopper.
Crawley did have the upper hand throuhgout the first half, and deservedly went in front when an unmarked Pablo Mills met David Hunt’s free kick, and planted his header past Jake Cole’s outstretched left hand.
And it should have been 2-0 on the very stroke of half time, released by Neilson on the break, Barnett was clean through, but a heavy first touch saw Cole gather.
It was scrappy fare for the first few minutes of the second half, but when Plymouth threatened just before the hour, McFadzean produced an heroic block to deny Feeney, Mills had to do the same again two minutes later on the edge of the box as the Pilgrims enjoyed a bright spell.
Crawley played on the break at times, and Tubbs tested Cole in the Plymouth goal with a low shot after Barnett had pounced on a loose ball.
For the last 20 minutes, the Reds did a good job of keeping the ball away from the danger area, spending long periods in and around the Plymouth area. But there was late drama in an end to end finish, as Plymouth levelled with 30 seconds to play. Crawley keeper Shearer had made a superb save from Hemmings, but soon after the ball was launched into the box, Blanchard’s overhead kick somehow crept in to snatch a point. There was still late drama to come as Scott Neilson appeared to be felled on the edge of the box, but there was no penalty - only the final whistle.
Reds: Scott Shearer, David Hunt, Pablo Mills, Claude Davis, Dean Howell, Dannie Bulman, Scott Neilson, Sergio Torres, Kyle McFadzean, Tyrone Barnett, Matt Tubbs.
Subs: Michel Kuipers, Hope Akpan (on for Davis 45), Ben Smith, Charlie Wassmer, Josh Simpson.
Plymouth: Jake Cole, Paul Bignot, Darren Purtse, Maxime Blanchard, Onismor Bhasera, Luke Young, Paul Wotton, Simon Walton, Ashley Hemmings, Warren feeney, Matt Lecointe.
Subs: Romain Larrieu, Durrell Berry, Joe Lennox (on for Young 87), Ladjie Soukouna (on for Feeney 65), Craig Sutherland (on for Lacoint 87).