Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

CRAWLEY TOWN 5 - 0 DROYLSDEN

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER - Saturday 8 September 2007

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods came away empty handed from the Broadfield Stadium when events conspired against them, with an erratic display from the officials, including two questionable dismissals. Indeed, if the character and fighting spirit qualities shown by the nine men who completed the game can be replicated in future games, then the Bloods will do fine this season.

Both sides created early chances, before Dannie Bulman put Crawley's top scorer Guy Madjo through, only for him to be shoved in the back by Steve Halford, and Mr. Beck correctly awarded a penatly kick. Halford was fortunate to only see yellow, but Madjo despatched the spot kick in any event.

Colin Cryan and Paul Phillips both saved Droylsden with some fine defending, and Jody Banim shot over at the other end after Halford's probing run had set Steve Daly free down the right flank.

Halford was then lucky to not receive his second yellow for deliberate handball, before Madjo almost turned Liam Murray, but the Bloods' defender, having his best game so far for his new club, stuck in a vital foot to clear.

James Krause then prevented a deep cross from Daniel Warner reaching Steve Daly in the box, and McGuire headed over from the resultant flag kick.

Then came the first of the disimssals. Following a typical midfield tussle, McGuire's trailing arm caught Tyrone Thompson on the side of the face and the Crawley skipper's anitcs would have been better suited to the Broadway Stage rather then the Broadfield Stadium. It is his over-reaction to the contact that is likely to have swayed the referee's decision – the type of behaviour normally reserved for the non-contact sport otherwise known as The Premiership, but disappointingly now seemingly reaching the lower levels.

Amazingly, just seven minutes later, Mr. Beck flashed red again, this time on the advice of one of his assistants, who saw Steve Daly throw an arm at Jamie Stevens. What the assistant failed to see, though was the dig in the ribs that Daly complained he had received from Stevens to spark the response. Nevertheless, there is little defence for retaliation, and in that regard Mr. Beck had little choice.

The Bloods clearly now had a mountain to climb, but at just 0-1 they had a slim chance of getting something from the game, which was aided by an amazing miss from Madjo just yards from goal. Phillips then saved a one-on-one with Jon-Paul Pittman, but on the stroke of half-time disaster struck when the theatrical Thompson converted Bulman's pass. In added time, Phillips saved with his legs from Pittman when Ronnie Bull looked liklier to connect.

After the re-start, Droylsden took the game to their hosts depsite their significant numerical disadvantage, and Gareth Morris twice saw efforts go off target.

However, the momentum could not be maintained against their full-time opponents, and The Redz made it 3-0 on 56 minutes when Pablo Mills crossed for Stevens. Phillips could not cut-out the cross, and the defender's header found the net despite the valiant efforts of Cryan on the line.

Phillips saved at point blank range from Madjo, and Thompson hooked-over as the Sussex side began to turn the screw.

Murray managed to block a Joseph-Dubois effort from close range, but from the resultant corner kick Mills thumped in a header at the far post to make it four.

In a rare attack, Jamie Tandy headed a Morris corner over the bar, but the action was soon at the other end as Phillips again saved with his legs, and Thomspon failed to convert, allowing Robin Gibson to clear.

It was 69 minutes before the Bloods could register their first shot on target, but Mills got in the way of Gavin Salmon's effort, who ran his socks off all alone up front for The Bloods.

Crawley looked to have made it five when Madjo latched on to a ball from Krause and lifted the ball over the advancing Phillips, only for Cryan to volley clear. Thomspon then rounded Phillips only for Kevin Lynch to this time throw his body in the path of the ball, and Joseph-Dubios headed straight at Phillips.

Jamie Cook was then denied by both Murray and Phillips, but Joseph-Dubois rounded-off the scoring by collecting a long ball out of defence, and he smartly turned Cryan before shooting past Phillips on 76 minutes.

So Crawley did not quite achieve the cricket score they might have hoped for, but it still goes down as their record victory in non-league's top flight, whereas The Bloods need to learn about the differing levels of how discipline is applied in this league.

Next up is Weymouth at the Butcher's, but already the away fixture on Saturday week at fellow-strugglers Altrincham already seems to be taking on massive importance, even at this relatively early stage of the season.

CRAWLEY TOWN: Bayes, Bull (Wilson, 81), Mills, Stevens, Thompson (Evans, 72), Madjo, Bulman, Pittman (Joseph-Dubois, 53), Pinault, Cook, Krause.

Subs not used: Vieira, Clapham (G/K).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Halford, Warner (Salmon, 46), Cryan, Murray, Morris, McGuire, Banim (Lynch, 37), Fearns (Tandy, 37), Daly, Gibson.

Subs not used: Burke, Senior (G/K).

ATTENDANCE: 825

REFEREE: Mr. Simon Beck (Shoeburyness, Essex)