Crawley Town 4 - 1 Bristol Rovers
Tyrone Barnett''s goals took his tally for the season to four Crawley continued their excellent start to the season with a thumping victory over Bristol Rovers.
Tyrone Barnett converted Kyle McFadzean''s centre to give the hosts an early lead.
Ben Smith headed home Dean Howell''s cross before Matt Tubbs made it 3-0 with a wonderful free-kick.
Lee Brown''s sliced cross drifted past Crawley keeper Michel Kuipers to give the visitors some hope only for Barnett to lash in a fourth after a neat move.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Crawley assistant manager Paul Raynor told BBC Sussex:
We got it right on the day. We took a couple of defeats really badly, but we lifted the morale. We know we''ve got a good squad.
It means we''ve gone to the top of the league which is no mean feat for Crawley Town.
It''s where we want to be, but we''re under no illusions, it''s a tough division.
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Npower League Two
Home Team Score Away Team Time
Crawley Town 4-1 Bristol Rovers FT
(HT 2-0)
Barnett 14
Smith 28
Tubbs 74
Barnett 84
Brown 80
Hide team line-ups and match statsCrawley Town
01 Kuipers
03 Howell
05 McFadzean
18 Dempster
20 Wassmer
08 Torres
11 Simpson (Akpan 77)
12 Smith yellow card (Doughty 86 yellow card)
13 Hunt yellow card09 Tubbs
23 Barnett (Thomas 88)
Substitutes
25 Shearer, 16 Wilson, 06 Akpan, 21 Doughty, 10 Thomas
Bristol Rovers
01 Bevan
04 Woodards
14 Brown
15 Anthony yellow card19 Virgo (Richard 62)
07 Campbell
08 Gill
21 Brown
09 Harrold yellow card (McGleish 62)
11 Carayol (Smith 36)
26 Zebroski
Substitutes
25 Cronin, 02 Smith, 06 Stanley, 10 McGleish, 18 RichardRef: Haywood
Att: 3,693
shirty5 90
mancityinleeds 90
gasrex 89
Jimmyboy73 88
gunner69 87
Captain Blue 87
goffybun 86
CRAWLEY Town returned to winning ways as they blew away Bristol Rovers at the Broadfield.
The Reds had lost their last three matches in all competitions but normal service was resumed as Tyrone Barnett, Matt Tubbs and Ben Smith.
Lee Brown notched a consolation goal for the away side, but this was Town's day as they climbed to the top of the table on goal difference.
There was no place in the match day squad for either Dannie Bulman or Scott Davies, as Evans preferred to play three centre-backs with Kyle McFadzean providing stability at the bottom of the midfield diamond.
Despite suffering defeat in their previous three games Town were still backed by a large crowd and they rewarded the home faithful by taking the lead after just 13 minutes. Tyrone Barnett, who had been rested at Southend in midweek, celebrated his return to the side by tapping home from close range after McFadzean had won a crucial header in the Rovers' area.
It was 2-0 on 26 minutes as Ben Smith met Dean Howell's cross eight yards out and headed past the diving Scott Bevan.
Town, who had dominated possession were well worth their lead although they were grateful to Dean Howell who was in the right place at the right time to clear Chris Zebroski's header off the line before the break.
The game continued in the same manor in the second half, with Crawley well on top. Charlie Wassmer had a decent shout for a penalty rejected by referee Oli Langford while McFadzean almost made it 3-0 when he drilled a fierce shot just wide.
At the other end Elliot Richards blasted an effort wide although in truth the away side never looked like getting back in the game. And Town had their third moments later as Matt Tubbs curled a superb free-kick into the net after Torres had been brought down right on the edge of the area.
With 10 minutes to go Lee Brown pulled one back for Rovers when his cross caught out Michel Kuipers and drifted inside the far post.
But any hopes Paul Buckle might have had of seeing his team pull off a remarkable comeback ended as Barnett bagged his second and Town's fourth. The big striker swept home after he got on the end of Tubbs clever flick on.
As the clock ticked past 90 substitute Hope Akpan should have made it five, but he fired over the bar from close range after some more good play from Tubbs.
Crawley Town: Kuipers: Howell, Dempster, McFadzean, Wassmer, Hunt: Simpson (Akpan 77), Smith (Doughty 87), Torres: Barnett (Thomas 88), Tubbs.
Subs: Shearer, Wilson.
Bristol Rovers:Bevan: Woodwards, Anthony, Virgo (Richards 61), L Brown:W Brown, Campbell, Gill, Carayol (Smith 35): Zebroski, Harold (McGleish 61).
Subs: Stanley, Cronin.
Referee: Langford
Bateleurs 85
gaswardy 81
LearGas 78
EmberAgent 77
rickisupforit 77
Scorers: Barnett 2, Smith, Tubbs.
stevegas 73
GasheadPhil 73
ProgrammesGas 72
simonburrows 51
steve the gas 44
paulgas 42
DL55 40
tote end tugboat 39
archieboco 35
tomcarpy 9
SammyRuds 4
deanctfc 0
Deanog13 0
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