MATT Tubbs hit a hat trick as Crawley Town booked their place in the Third Round of the FA Cup today.
The striker scored twice from the spot and also with a stunning first half volley in the Reds’ 5-0 defeat of cup minnows Redbridge.
At first Crawley made heavy work of the Ryman Division 1 North side, although the lowest ranked team in the opposition were finally seen off after further goals from Andy Drury and Kyle McFadzean.
After a low key start in which Redbridge won an early corner, Tubbs had Crawley’s first chance, hitting a left foot shot just wide of Adam Rafis’ goal from a David Hunt throw. And setting the tone, Josh Simpson dragged a shot wide from Andy Drury’s inventive corner, and moments later Tubbs found space and his centre was just inches away from Tyrone Barnett’s outstretched studs. After ten minutes Simpson flashed another dipping shot past Rafis’ left hand post and Crawley were comfortably in charge.
Redbridge grew in confidence however, and after good work from Nathan Gordon, James Robinson headed over. There was a nervy moment for the Reds when Claude Davis allowed a ball from deep to go past him, and with Robinson lurking, Scott Shearer had to race to the edge of his box to clear.
At the other end, David Hunt had a shot deflected wide And Crawley finally went in fron on the half hour, Tubbs drilling a spot kick into the corner after Dan Trekel fouled Kyle McFadzean. And that settled the home side down, as six minutes later Tubbs hit his second, a superb volley on his left foot after chesting down Barnett’s knock down. He might have completed an eight minute hat trick shortly after, but was just unable to make proper contact with Dean Howell’s cross and headed over.
Redbridge did create another scare before the break, James Robinson crept in behind David Hunt and lashed a cross shot across goal, and Gordon was unable to turn it back across the face, finding the side netting.
In first half stoppage time, Barnett saw his looping header clawed away by Rafis. The Redbridge keeper was called into action 60 seconds into the second half, blocking from Tubbs after he dug out Howell’s left wing cross. Soon after, it was Sergio Torres’ turn to be denied as Rafis palmed his stinging driver over the bar.
But Crawley were not their usual selves at the back, and after a loose pass from Howell, Joe Gardner pounced and although Shearer held him up, the Redbridge man was able to fashion a shot which bobbled wide. Robinson might have made Howell pay for another slack moment with 65 minutes on the clock, latching on to a loose pass, only for Shearer to save at his feet.
At the other end, Tubbs was hauled down by Matt Turpin, who earned a yellow card, and Andy Drury curled it wide. Reds almost had a third when Davis went on a marauding run from the back and fed Simpson who was denied at the near post, and seconds later Davis was inches from connecting with Drury’s low cross.
Tubbs finally completed his hat trick 12 minutes from time, converting from the spot again after Vincent Durrant had been dismissed for a trip on Barnett.
Drury added an emphatic fourth on the volley from about 12 yards after Redbridge failed to clear Hunt’s cross. The on loan Ipswich midfielder almost made it five with a curling shot which was superbly palmed away by Rafis in the Redbridge goal.
McFadzean had the final word, smashing home a thumping long range shot which beat Rafis at his near post to wrap it up.