THERE was plenty of cause for celebration on the Crawley team coach as it made its way back from the New Forest on Saturday.

Charlie Ademeno had turned 21, Eddie Hutchinson had become a father for the second time and Reds had overcome a potential banana skin to earn themselves £5,000 and reach the second round of the FA Trophy.

It would be harsh to say that victory over spirited Southern League premier opposition kept their season alive but there is no denying the importance of a decent Trophy run. Cosily placed in mid-table in the Conference, it is hard to see Crawley challenging for the play-offs or going down.

But things are looking up after a disappointing run which saw them win two out of ten. Since the unfortunate 2-1 home defeat to Oxford they have chalked up successive away wins and when AFC Wimbledon visit on Saturday for the first of four games in 13 days over Christmas, only Chris Giles is likely to be missing through injury.

Boss Steve Evans’ preference in today’s second round draw is a home tie, even if it is against decent Conference opposition.

The fans might be happier facing the lowest-ranked team left but they would be in agreement on one thing: if there had been a natural predator in the side on Saturday they could have given their hosts a real bashing.

Ademeno, in particular, had a day to forget in front of goal. Desperate to celebrate his birthday with a goal he had three one-on-ones but fluffed them all.

Lewis Killeen, Ben Smith and Mikey Malcolm were also guilty of poor finishing although Adam Quinn missed the biggest sitter of the lot, side-footing wide of an open goal from two yards after David Elms had somehow parried his first effort at point-blank range.

Those misses meant Reds had to endure an unnecessarily fraught last ten minutes after substitute Joe Maxwell’s header made it 3-2. Bashley, managed by former Worthing midfielder Steve Riley, forced a succession of corners and Maxwell’s header nearly forced a replay.

It had looked like being a comfortable afternoon when Sam Rents curled a delightful right-foot shot into the top corner and Glenn Wilson claimed his first goal of the season after a driving run by Barry Cogan in the first 16 minutes.

Charlie Knight exposed a creaky offside trap to pull one back but Gary Middleton turned Ademeno’s cross into his own net midway through the second half to restore the two-goal lead and it was no more than Reds deserved.

The gap of 40 places between the teams in the pyramid was often evident but the home side never threw the towel in and there was always Elm to bale them out.

Evans said: “The objective was to go through. It was never going to be pretty because the pitch was not good and Bashley deserve enormous credit. But to be fair, if it had been 25-2 it would have reflected the chances but we didn’t take them. Charlie could have had five himself.

“Barry Cogan didn’t pick up his man for their second goal and then they are going to get balls into the box and put us under pressure but it would have been very sore for us had we not gone through.”

Evans revealed that Calum Willock’s contract is likely to be extended when it expires next month and if Jefferson Louis’ loan move to Rushden is made permanent he will be able to bring another striker in during the transfer window.

But with Forrest, who scored three goals in as many games before his injury, giving Evans another option up front this weekend it will be interesting to see which combination the manager goes with as his preferred front two.

Ademeno has to be one of them because his pace frightens defenders but getting the selection right might be the key to prolonging the Trophy run in the New Year.

Bashley: Elm, Castle, Ferrett (sub: Smith 65), Middleton, Parnell (Prodomo 71), Knowles, Kelly, Mason (Tarr 71), Allen, Gamble, Knight. Unused subs: Prodomo, Maxwell, Tarr.

Crawley: Rayner, Rusk, Rents, Wilson, Quinn, Cogan, Pinault (sub: Broadhurst 90), Smith, Malcolm, Killeen, Ademeno (Willock 88). Unused Subs: Carter, Jordan, King.

Referee: Nick Kinselsey (Wickford).