Thomas Pinault scored his first goal of the season to give Crawley a richly deserved half-time lead against leaders Oxford at the Broadfield tonight.
The midfielder struck from close range after 17 minutes following a good move down the Reds' right. Mikey Malcolm's cross found Charlie Ademeno and when Oxford keeper Matt Clarke failed to hold his shot Pinault reacted quickest to score.
Oxford's best chance of the half came a minute later when Simon Rayner kept out Jack Midson's shot but the home side looked a threat when they went forward and dominated the midfield exhanges.
They created two more chances just before the break when Ademeno dragged his shot wide from a tight angle and Clarke beat out a 20 yard drive from Pinault which moved prodigiously through the air.
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