Crawley 0-1 Town Wednesday, 10th Jul 2013 20:38 The Blues are 1-0 in front via Daryl Murphy's third goal of pre-season at half-time at Crawley. Town included 26-year-old South African international centre-half Bongani Khumalo from the start — with the Blues again fielding a different side in each half - alongside Tommy Smith. Another trialist, Dean Gerken, was in goal with Tyrone Mings at left-back and Kyle Hammond on the right. New signing Paul Anderson and Josh Carson were the widemen with Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam in the centre. Michael Chopra partnered Daryl Murphy up front. The only senior absentees from the squad were Paul Taylor, who is not yet ready for inclusion after his lengthy injury absence, and Carlos Edwards, who is with Trinidad and Tobago at the Gold Cup in the USA. The game’s first chance saw ex-Blue Billy Clarke curl a freekick just wide from the edge of the box after Khumalo had fouled Nicky Adams. Town went ahead in the ninth minute when Mings found Anderson on the left. The former Bristol City man looped the ball over a defender and played the ball to Murphy, who touched it away from a defender before netting his third goal of pre-season from six yards. Crawley looked to get back on terms through Jamie Proctor but Gerken was equal to his strike from the edge of the box. The home side came close to an equaliser in the 17th minute when Joe Walsh headed Adams’s freekick from the left just wide. Town went close to making it 2-0 a minute later when Anderson ran on to Chopra’s ball and nodded it past keeper Paul Jones but away from goal and no one was able to convert his low pass back across the box. On the half hour Murphy almost scored his fourth goal of pre-season when he ran on to a Hyam pass and took the ball past the keeper but Mark Connolly did superbly to block as the Irishman seemed certain to score. Clarke ought to have got his side back on terms in the 33rd minute when Adams tricked his way past Mings on the right and crossed to the far post. The ex-Town academy man had time to pick his spot but nodded straight to Gerken. Murphy shot straight at Jones from 25 yards on 39 with the Red Devils showing an alarming tendency to give the ball away in their own half. Soon after, Chopra forced the home keeper to push 25-yeard freekick past his post after Carson had been fouled by James Stinson as the Blues broke after Crawley had again surrendered possession too easily. Neither side threatened again before the break when Town’s second half XI began their warm-up. Town had had the majority of the game and could have had more goals, however, Crawley will also feel they might have scored at least once. A confident Murphy took his chance well and always looked a threat. Trialist keeper Gerken did everything required of him, while Khumalo made a couple of decent interceptions but one rather agricultural early foul. First half: Gerken, Hammond, Mings, Khumalo, Smith, Skuse, Anderson, Hyam, Murphy, Chopra, Carson. Second half: Loach, Hewitt, Chambers, Seaborne, Cresswell, Lawrence, Berkane, Wordsworth, Tabb, Nouble, McGoldrick. Subs: Timlin, October. Referee: Tim Robinson.
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