Date: Saturday 15th November, 2008
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: overcast, mild
Goals:
Crawley: Pittman 30', Pinault 60' (pen)
United: McEvilly 51' (pen), Convery 90'

Crawley Town:
Simon Rayner, Glenn Wilson, Chris Giles (c), Jake Wright, Sam Rents; Danny Forrest, Dannie Bulman, Thomas Pinault, Michael Malcolm (Jamie Stevens 82'); Jon-Paul Pittman (Danny Mills 78', Simon Weatherstone 83'), Steve Fletcher.
Subs not used: Lewis Killeen, James Dayton.

Booked: Pinault foul 32', Giles foul 51', Bulman foul 63', Stevens foul 90'
Sent off: Rents 82' violent conduct

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Josh Coulson, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Ben Farrell, Jon Challinor (Felino Jardim 85'), Mark Convery; Robbie Willmott (Danny Crow 66'), Mark Beesley (c), Lee McEvilly.
Subs not used: Chris Holroyd, Rory McAuley, Stephen Drench.

Booked: Farrell foul 21', 76', Coulson 60', Gleeson foul 68', Convery over-celebrating 90'
Sent off: Farrell 76' second yellow

The 2-2 scoreline did not begin to tell the story of a game that included four goals, two penalties, two sendings-off and Jon Challinor stretchered off as Lee McEvilly and then Mark Convery in stoppage time twice hauled United level.

Gary Brabin made four changes to the side beaten 1-0 at Kidderminster in the FA Cup last weekend. Josh Coulson and Ben Farrell were called up in place of suspended pair Phil Bolland and Paul Carden, while Mark Convery and Mark Beesley were recalled in place of Chris Holroyd and Danny Crow and Beesley wore the captain's armband in Carden's absence.

With his injury situation easing this week, Crawley manager Steve Evans made three changes to the side that beat Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup. Defenders Glenn Wilson and Jake Wright and midfielder Danny Forrest returned in place of Adam Quinn, Lewis Killeen and Jamie Stevens.

It became quickly apparent that United were playing with three up front and they made a lively start, with Coulson, Tonkin and Willmott combining well in a good opening move, while the home side threatened in the fourth minute when the veteran Steve Fletcher dived at full stretch to meet a cross to the far post but Danny Potter made a comfortable save.

Mark Beesley tried his luck from 35 yards when he seized upon a poor clearance but his attempted lob sailed wide, and then two fouls in quick succession by Lee McEvilly gave away a couple of free kicks, the second on the very edge of the United area, but Malcolm's free kick clipped the wall and sailed wide.

United's midfield three were working hard in the engine room, joined when possible by the full-backs on the overlap, and on 21 Farrell picked up possession in his own half and strode forward, riding two firm challenges and retaining the ball, but he was punished for a similar 50/50 clash with Sam Rents and collected the first booking of the game.

Three minutes later McEvilly's persistence hassled a corner out of Crawley captain Chris Giles and Convery delivered a short corner, but although United had two efforts blocked and McEvilly eventually turned the ball home it was disallowed for an infringement.

The early pace had dropped and mistakes were creeping in, and on 26 Farrell lost the ball and Fletcher worked it on to Forrest who sliced a firm shot wide from 20 yards. Then two minutes later Pittman's shot was blocked by Coulson and United countered through Willmott and Beesley, whose shot was blocked, and McEvilly was brought down as he tried to follow-up. The big striker left the free kick for Wayne Hatswell but he drove the ball into the stand behind the goal.

Starting only his second game of the season, Josh Coulson had looked as though he had never been away but he was unfortunate on the half hour when Forrest made a good run down the right and crossed the ball, Coulson slipped as he challenged and the ball span to Jon-Paul Pittman who drove a low angled shot home from eight yards.

There were ugly scenes two minutes later when Thomas Pinault ran a long way to make a late, horrible lunge at Gleeson in front of the technical area. The foul incensed the U's coaching staff who were quickly on the pitch to protest, but Pittman escaped with a yellow card and Gleeson was fortunately able to resume after treatment.

There was little to separate the two sides apart from Coulson's unfortunate slip, but United ended the half strongly and Crawley's Canadian keeper Simon Rayner was busy in the closing minutes.

On 38 Mark Beesley turned on the right of the area but his shot was blocked and cleared, a minute later Willmott was sent sprawling and Convery's free kick was claimed above McEvilly's head by the towering goalkeeper, then on 41 Tonkin unleashed a low left-foot drive from 30 yards that bobbled in front of Rayner and he did well to smother the ball.

A minute later Beesley cut in from the right to shoot from 20 yards but the sting was taken out of the shot as it deflected off a defender and ran through to Rayner, and in a lightning counterattack Crawley escaped from their own half and Potter got down smartly to save Bulman's low shot.

The traffic was still almost one-way as half-time approached and McEvilly hurdled a challenge as he advanced to the edge of the area and tried to pick out Beesley, the ball was cleared but only as far as Ben Farrell 30 yards who lifted the ball over the bar.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A decent half from United in all bar one aspect; unfortunately that one aspect was the goal where Pittman pounced where Coulson slipped. Otherwise the U's have looked promising going forward and reasonably solid in defence, but just lacking that goal."

Second half:
United resumed as they had left off as Beesley went close with a shot that almost dipped in at the far post while Convery had a shot blocked, and the scores were level six minutes into the half.

Crawley captain Chris Giles and Lee McEvilly had competed throughout the game in a 'hard but fair' contest, but when Convery floated a corner into the crowded area on 51 referee Ian Cooper spotted an infringement and seemed to indicate that Giles had pulled McEvilly's shirt. Giles was booked and goalkeeper Rayner tried to psyche out Lee McEvilly with his goalmouth antics, but the big striker coolly sent him the wrong way to level the scores with his 11th goal of the season.

The home side threatened almost from the restart and Fletcher climbed above Gleeson to meet a cross but the U's defender did enough to force him to head over the bar, and United carved out two good moves soon afterwards as first Willmott made a great jet-heeled run but was closed down by the defence, and Beesley led another good breakaway on 56 and tried a shot on the angle but he was ruled offside.

Dan Gleeson got forward to try his luck from 35 yards but his shot was blocked and the score changed again on the hour when Giles was pushed as the ball was crossed into the area. Josh Coulson was booked and Thomas Pinault, who could perhaps count himself fortunate to still be on the pitch, sent Potter the wrong way to restore the lead.

With the Crawley players and bench disputing every decision the game always had a tetchy undercurrent and on 63 Dannie Bulman was booked for a foul as Willmott threatened to escape from him, and a minute later Beesley produced a superb shot on the turn but Rayner was well-placed to save it.

Moments later the already-booked Farrell made a late challenge on Pinault but Mr Cooper sensibly gave the young midfielder a final warning, and on 66 Gary Brabin made the first substitution to send on Danny Crow for Willmott.

There was a goalmouth scramble on 67 as Farrell had a header blocked and several players tangled in the area before Rayner saved bravely as boots flew, and Gleeson was called to the referee and booked for a high challenge. Then a quick break by Crawley saw Bulman hold off last man Coulson and draw Potter but he fired wide.

The always edgy match took another turn on 75 when Farrell went down under a challenge just inside the area, bounced up and tried to continue, but Mr Cooper deemed him to have dived and produced a second yellow card. The United players were incredulous as Farrell left the pitch with his head in his hands, and both benches could be seen plotting their next moves.

Steve Evans sent on huge debutant striker Danny Mills for Pittman in the 78th minute, clearly hoping to take advantage of their numerical advantage, but it lasted less than five minutes because on 82 Sam Rents flew into a crunching knee-high challenge on Challinor. He was shown an immediate red card as Challinor stayed down for lengthy attention, and during the break in play Evans made two substitutions, first sending on Jamie Stevens on for Malcolm, then withdrawing Mills, who had only just come on, to be replaced by Simon Weatherstone.

After extended treatment Challinor was stretchered off to be replaced by Felino Jardim, and with both sides now reduced to ten men it was hammer and tongs for the closing minutes as United fought to get something from the game.

Anthony Tonkin put a header over the bar as seven minutes of stoppage time were indicated, and three minutes into those seven United were level. The home defence were rocking under the pressure and Mark Convery picked up possession from a loose ball and unleashed a low unstoppable shot from 30 yards that gave Rayner no chance as it arrowed into the bottom corner. The Geordie has been in and out of the side since arriving from York and he showed his delight by tearing off his shirt as he bounded to celebrate with team-mates and the coaching staff; the yellow card for excessive celebrations went almost unnoticed.

There were still four minutes remaining and Crawley sub Stevens was booked for bringing down Jardim, the free kick was half-cleared to Crow whose shot was beaten away and Jardim's cross was hacked away by the rocking defence.

Danny Potter made a comfortable save from Giles in the last move of the game before the final whistle allowed the United players to celebrate a deserved comeback in a game that had everything apart from three points for the U's.

Referee: Mr Ian Cooper

Attendance: 1,570 (away 491)

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A stoppage time strike from Mark Convery gave United a deserved draw at Crawley. Jon-Paul Pittman put the home side ahead after half an hour of an even first period, to set up a tasty second half littered with contentious decisions. Lee McEvilly profited from a soft penalty to level shortly after the break before the referee evened things up with an equally soft penalty for Crawley, and when Ben Farrell was surprisingly sent off for diving 15 minutes from time it looked like being another case of what might have been for the U's. But Sam Rents was sent off for an horrendous challenge on Jon Challinor and Mark Convery struck in time added on to make Crawley pay."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Mark Convery - for the vital late equaliser that capped a solid performance as part of a hard-working three man midfield. Honourable mention to the back four who worked very hard, particularly Anthony Tonkin for a lot of good work down the wing, but it's difficult to omit anyone in a good team performance."

Ref: Mr Cooper - had an interesting game and gave decisions that many wouldn't have done. He started well but went off the boil as the game progressed. 3/10."

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