Jack Powell scored a stunner as new Crawley boss Matthew Etherington got off to a winning start with a hard-fought 2-0 home win over play-off chasers Swindon.
After Nick Tsaroulla put Crawley ahead in the 79th minute, Powell hit a 40-yard shot four minutes later to seal their fourth home win in five games in the Second Division.
Former Peterborough U21 manager Etherington went into his first game as manager of Crawley insisting “everyone has to start somewhere” as he responded to criticism from some fans worried about his suitability for his first role did as a senior.
The Reds suffered early injury damage when Teddy Jenks was substituted and his substitute James Tilley blocked a shot on goal from goalkeeper Sol Brynn after good work from the recalled James Balagizi.
Ellis Iandolo fired in a sharp chance for the Robins after a Frazer Blake-Tracy cutback before Crawley had the ball in the net, only for Joel Lynch’s close shot to be ruled offside.
Swindon started the second half in a more businesslike manner and a Louis Reed free-kick was fumbled on the goal-line by goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe before being cleared for a corner.
At the other end, Brynn stopped a low shot from Tilley and forward Dom Telford fired from the turn to rouse the home fans.
The Reds broke the deadlock eleven minutes from time when Tsaroulla scored with a deflected shot from 25 yards that wrong-footed Brynn.
Powell doubled the advantage in the 83rd minute by firing into an empty net after keeper Brynn came out of his area to clear Aramide Oteh.
There was a long delay before nine minutes of added time when Robins midfielder Saidou Khan was carried away on a stretcher after colliding with a post.
Match report by PA Media.
lineups
Crawley
formation 4-3-1-2
37Balcombe
4FrankombfifteenFrancillette6Lynch25Zaroulla
8thPowell28Jenks39Hessenthaler
20balagiz
10Nadesan19Telford
- 37Balcombe
- 4Frankomb
- fifteenFrancillette
- 6LynchBooked at 44 minutes
- 25Zaroulla
- 8thPowell
- 28JenksReplaced byTillyat 8th’protocol
- 39Hessenthaler
- 20balagizReplaced bycompanionsat 53′protocol
- 10Nadesan
- 19TelfordReplaced byOthat 74′protocol
substitute
- 5craig
- 7Tilly
- 24Oth
- 38companions
- 41Robson
- 44ogungo
swindon
formation 4-3-3
1Brno
2Hutton4Clayton34Brennan20BlakeTracy
7Gladwin5reed23khan
24AwakenfifteenJephcott3Iandolo
- 1Brno
- 2Hutton
- 4ClaytonReplaced byBaudryat 68′protocol
- 34Brennan
- 20BlakeTracy
- 7GladwinReplaced bydarcyat 45′protocol
- 5reed32 minutes booked
- 23khanReplaced byLavinierat 90+8′protocol
- 24AwakenReplaced byadeloyeat 68′protocol
- fifteenJephcottReplaced byThe shadeat 54′protocol
- 3IandoloReplaced byRobertsat 81′protocol
substitute
- 6Baudry
- 9adeloye
- 10darcy
- 22Lavinier
- 28The shade
- 33Roberts
- 41Copland
Referee: Martin Woods
Number of visitors: 3,230
live text
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Game ends, Crawley Town 2, Swindon Town 0.
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Second half ends, Crawley Town 2, Swindon Town 0.
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Morgan Roberts (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jack Powell (Crawley Town).
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attempt blocked. Louis Reed (Swindon Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Remeao Hutton.
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Morgan Roberts (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ashley Nadesan (Crawley Town).
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Ciaran Brennan (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aramide Oteh (Crawley Town).
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Frazer Blake-Tracy (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tom Fellows (Crawley Town).
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Substitution, Swindon Town. Marcel Lavinier replaces Saidou Khan due to injury.
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Corner, Swindon Town. Cashed in by George Francomb.
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Goal! Crawley Town 2, Swindon Town 0. Jack Powell (Crawley Town) right footed shot from more than 40 yards out to the bottom left corner.
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attempt blocked. James Tilley (Crawley Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by George Francomb.
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Substitution, Swindon Town. Morgan Roberts replaces Ellis Iandolo.
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Goal! Second Half begins Crawley Town 0, Swindon Town 0. Nicholas Tsaroulla (Crawley Town) left footed shot from outside the box to the center of the goal. Assisted by Tom Fellows following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Saidou Khan (Swindon Town).
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Nicholas Tsaroulla (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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attempt failed. Remeao Hutton (Swindon Town) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Tyrese Shade.
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