Late strikes break Crawley's hearts at Walsall (From The Argus)

Late strikes break Crawley's hearts at Walsall

5:00pm Saturday 16th March 2013 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Crawley conceded two goals in the dying moments as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Walsall.

Second half goals from Jamie Proctor and Paul Hayes looked to have breathed fresh life into Crawley's play-off hopes at the Bescot Stadium.

Proctor's third goal for Reds gave the visitors the lead early in the second half with Hayes making sure of the points in the 71st minute.

Walsall pulled one back in the 89th minute through Jamie Paterson and Will Grigg broke Crawley's hearts two minutes into injury time.

It was Crawley's fourth consecutive draw and means they slip to 13th in League One - ten points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth with two games in hand.

Crawley boss Richie Barker freshened up his team by making two changes to the side which drew 2-2 at Yeovil in midweek.

Both were in midfield with Nicky Adams and Jake Taylor being recalled at the expense of Sergio Torres and Dannie Bulman.

The first half was a completely forgettable affair as both teams struggled on a pitch which was in a poor condition at kick-off and get progressively worse.

Crawley goalkeeper Paul Jones made one comfortable save from Jamie Paterson while at the other end Aaron McCarey was a bystander with a tame shot from Jamie Proctor which went wide the only effort the visitors could muster.

A draw was no good to either teams play-off hopes and the game opened up straight after the interval.

Fabien Brandy twice tested Jones with low shots while Proctor dragged a shot from the edge of the area wide of the far post.

That proved to be a sighter with Proctor arrowing a fierce 20-yard shot past McCarey in the 52nd minute to give Crawley the lead.

The goal stunned the home side and they responded by twice going close to an equaliser. Jones saved well from Brandy on the counter attack and then Paterson struck the inside of a post following a surging run.

Crawley continued to pose a threat on the break with Hayes being denied at point blank range by McCarey and Proctor blazing the rebound over.

McCarey produced another good save from an Adams header in the 71st minute but this time Hayes was there to fire home the loose ball at the second attempt.

Reds could have made the points safe when a great counter-attack involving Proctor and Hayes ended with a shot from Adams being cleared off the line by Andy Butler.

The visitors still looked sure to be heading home with a priceless victory only to concede twice right at the death.

Walsall had not lost at home in their last 11 outings and extended that run when Paterson's deflected shot flew past Jones in the 89th minute and then Grigg converted a low cross at the far post in injury time after Connor Essam was beaten by a bobble.