It was a historic afternoon for Crawley Town Football Club as they sealed a play-off place following a hard-fought 2-0 win over Grimsby Town.
Nine minutes in, Denver Hume missed a sitter for the visitors when he blazed his shot over the bar from just a few yards out. It was a warning sign for Crawley, and a reminder that it wouldn’t be plain sailing all afternoon if they were to get the three points they so desperately craved.
Almost instantly, up at the other end, Adam Campbell drove at the Grimsby backline, but his shot dragged just wide of the right hand post.
Soon after Campbell came close to scoring, the Mariners missed another glaring opportunity with 20 minutes played, as a player chested a loose ball wide from a few yards out.
Danilo Orsi broke the deadlock 24 minutes in. It was not a vintage goal, but the Crawley talisman controlled the ball well in the box and poked it over the keepers head, follwoing a ball in from Jeremy Kelly to send an expectant crowd beserk.
Klaidi Lolos then doubled the Crawley advantage with 34 minutes played. His vicious strike beat Jake Eastwood for sheer power and accuracy, and it was a goal that sent the Broadfield Stadium into yet more pandemonium.
The striker, who has proved to be one of the signings of the season, went close with another effort from range, but it was straight at the keeper.
Reds went into half time in control of the play off race.
The second half took a processional form with Crawley happy to let the Mariners have the ball and took to defending their two goal lead.
Lindsey made some defensive changes to amplify this, introducing Mukena, Tsaroulla and Gordon.
A Barrow equaliser at Crewe meant that nerves were heightened, as a winner for Barrow and another goal for Crewe, who equalised in the 90th minute at Colchester would see the Reds drop out of the play off places.
Those nerves continued for the final few minutes for everyone associated with Crawley Town, but the hosts saw the game out with the same steel and nerve they’ve shown all season and duly secured their place in the Sky Bet League Two play-offs.
It is the first time in the history of the club that they have been involved in them – and the fact they are is down to the group of players and staff who have all performed consistently well across the season.
Reds will face MK Dons in a maiden play off campaign with the home league first up at the Broadfield Stadium on Monday 6th May at 3pm.
REDS XI: Addai, Adeyemo (Gordon 79'), Wright, Conroy (c), Maguire, J.Kelly, Williams, L.Kelly (Darcy 60'), Lolos (Tsaroulla 86'), Campbell (Mukena 60'), Orsi
Attendance: 4,885 (632 away)
