Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: chilly
Goals:
Crawley: James 13', Bulman 58'
United: Boylan 21'

The U's were sunk in Sussex despite Lee Boylan's first half equaliser, his seventh goal in the last five games a rare ray of light on a gloomy evening.

Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side that won 1-0 at home to Woking on Saturday, calling up Mark Beesley and Mark Convery in place of Lee McEvilly (injured) and loanee Magno Vieira (ineligible) and reverting to the familiar 3-5-2 line-up with Beesley partnering Lee Boylan up front and Convery slotting into midfield.

Crawley manager Steve Evans also made two changes to his side, who lost 2-0 at Northwich Victoria, dropping Murphy and Carayol to the bench and calling up James Krause and recalling fit-again top scorer Jamie Cook.

United's bench was an all-teenage line-up, including midfielder Sam Cutler who was allocated a first team squad number today, while Crawley's bench included two former short-term U's - former youth player Lee Blackburn and last summer's trialist Pierre Joseph-Dubois.

The match kicked off under dim light but United started brightly and forced a series of early corners, and in the sixth minute Pitt's excellent cross was headed away from the goalmouth by Stevens inches in front of Boylan.

Play was fairly even after those opening exchanges, with United slightly dominant but Crawley looking dangerous on the counterattack, especially through the pace of winger Dannie Bulman, and the home side took the lead in the 13th minute.

It came from a free kick after Mark Albrighton brought down Jamie Cook on the right, and Bulman's long ball to Wilson at the far post was nodded back across goal to Kevin James who stooped to head it in off the post.

But United were level on 21 after back-to-back corners. Mark Peters flicked Mark Convery's flagkick on to Lee Boylan with his back to goal in the area and the striker nodded the ball back over Bayes and inside the near post for his seventh goal in five games.

The goal prompted a loud chorus of renewed singing from the away supporters but Crawley turned up the pressure and United's defence had to stand firm, while on the sidelines Crawley's management team of Steve Evans and former U's player Paul Rayner loudly contested almost every decision against their side.

On the half hour Bulman fired well wide from long-range and two minutes later referee Graham Scott walked over to warn Evans about his conduct.

Danny Potter was called into meaningful action on 36 when Dan Gleeson fouled Pittman on the left and Bulman delivered another dangerous free kick to Pittman who saw his shot from near the penalty spot saved by the U's keeper.

Mark Peters collected the first booking of the night on 41 when he had to make a last-ditch challenge on Cook after he had slipped past Gleeson, and a minute later Potter clawed a cross away at full-stretch with Cook closing in. He launched an immediate counterattack and good interplay involving Beesley released Wolleaston into the area to earn the first of two corners, the first cleared behind and the second whipped into the crowded area by Convery but well-saved by Bayes.

With both teams looking keen to get into the dressing rooms to regroup, the only remaining action was a 20-yarder from Cook that Potter clutched to his chest.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A scrappy half with United playing the better football but looking vulnerable to the pace of Crawley's front men. The U's are deservedly level but there is the threat of fireworks off the field as the Crawley bench are as calm as a volcano on the cusp of an eruption."

Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged for the second half and the next booking followed five minutes in when Kevin James made a strong run to try to meet a free kick, tangled with Paul Carden, and was booked for protesting long and loud to Mr Scott.

Like their management team, Crawley's players continued to protest every decision against them but the referee was unswayed and stood up to them well. They were dangerous on the break and on 55 Pittman fired wide of the far post from the edge of the area, and a minute later he burst onto a through ball but Potter raced out to claim the ball before he got there.

But on 58 Crawley caught United on the break and Cook got past Morrison to deliver a ball across the face of goal, Dannie Bulman volleying beyond Potter into the far corner to restore his side's lead.

Albrighton collected the next booking for a foul and Jimmy Quinn made a double change on 65, bringing on Jordan Collins for his first appearance of the season in place of Mark Peters and Robbie Willmott for Mark Convery, in the process switching to a flat back four with Collins at left back.

The game went flat for a few minutes but the home side threatened again on 71 when goalscorer James escaped down the right and pulled the ball back across goal to Bulman on the left of the penalty area, but this time the winger fired wide of the near post.

Perhaps missing too many influential players, United looked well below par and with Crawley running the show Jimmy Quinn made his final change by bringing on West Ham loanee Jack Jeffery for Beesley in the 75th minute.

Boylan escaped with a warning for a frustrated challenge on Stevens a minute later, while Jeffery and Willmott scampered around with plenty of energy and intent as they tried to effect a change in front of the noisy away supporters.

United earned another corner and retained possession high up the pitch as a free kick and a series of throw ins followed, but the home side defended stoutly and in numbers and United lacked the inspiration to break them down.

Bulman earned a free kick when he broke away on the counterattack, rode one challenge but then was dispossessed by Carden who was unlucky to concede the foul. Jordan Collins charged down the free kick and Jack Jeffery made a good run and cross that was initially blocked but at the second attempt he found Boylan in the area, his shot hitting the bar and rebounding away.

Steve Evans made his first change to bring on midfielder Lee Blackburn on for Thomas Pinault in the 88th minute, and a rare spell of U's pressure as play entered stoppage time culminated in a Mark Albrighton shot wide.

Evans made two further changes in stoppage time, bringing on Kieran Murphy for Cook and then former U's trialist Pierre Joseph-Dubois for Pittman, and a miserable evening saw Dan Gleeson booked for a foul seconds before the final whistle.

Crawley Town:
Ashley Bayes, Glenn Wilson, Jamie Stevens, Bradley Thomas, James Krause; Dannie Bulman, Tyrone Thompson (c), Thomas Pinault (Lee Blackburn 88'), Kevin James; Jamie Cook (Keiran Murphy 90'), Jon-Paul Pittman (Pierre Joseph-Dubois 90').
Subs not used: Nick Carter, Mustapha Carayol.

Booked: James dissent 50'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Mark Albrighton (c), Mark Peters (Jordan Collins 65'), Michael Morrison; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Paul Carden, Mark Convery (Robbie Willmott 65'), Courtney Pitt; Mark Beesley (Jack Jeffery 75'), Lee Boylan.
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Sam Cutler.

Booked: Peters foul 41', Albrighton foul 60', Gleeson foul 90'

Referee: Mr Graham Scott

Att: 1,024 (away 361)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"The U's slipped to a disappointing defeat at Crawley - a result that if it hasn't put a kibosh on the United's title hopes has come pretty close to it. Lee Boylan was on target for the fifth consecutive match to cancel out Kevin James' early goal but rather than use the equaliser as a stepping stone, United toppled into a stream of mediocrity after the break. Dannie Bulman's sweetly-struck volley settled the match 13 minutes after the re-start and although Lee Boylan struck the bar late on a second equaliser would have been ill-deserved."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"The 361 away fans who never stopped supporting the team throughout the entire poor second half."

Ref: Mr Scott - controlled the game well despite a volatile home bench. 8/10."

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