Cook serves up late winner for Crawley

11:05pm Tuesday 15th April 2008

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Crawley 2, Grays Athletic 1.

Steve Evans admitted revenge was sweet against Grays.

Reds overcame the Essex club at Broadfield Stadium after a late winner by top scorer Jamie Cook.

Victory came less than three weeks after Evans' side conceded two controversial penalties to lose 2-1 at the Rec.

Boss Evans said: "If we hadn't have taken three points from Grays this season it would have been an absolute injustice.

"We were the better side over the two games and considering they robbed us at their place it was great to get a win here.

"In terms of heart, desire and commitment we were terrific and it would have been a crime had we not won."

Reds were again forced to start with a makeshift forward line after strikers Pierre Joseph-Dubois (hamstring) and Jon-Paul Pittman (thigh) were ruled out.

Last week at Histon defender Glenn Wilson filled the gap up front and this time it was captain Tyrone Thompson's turn to show his versatility by partnering top scorer Jamie Cook.

Thompson has played in every position across the midfield this season, as well as right-back in recent weeks, and proved early on he can hold his own as a striker.

Playing as a targetman despite his small stature, Thompson produced some impressive hold-up play and went close with Crawley's first effort at goal after ten minutes.

He turned his marker cleverly and hit a first-time left foot volley from 20-yards which stung the palms of keeper Nicky Eyre.

Reds would have been behind by then had it not been for some good goalkeeping from former Grays keeper Ashley Bayes.

Big striker Danny Kedwell stole in behind the home defence with just three minutes gone and tried to lob over the stranded Bayes but the experienced stopper adjusted his feet well and tipped over spectacularly.

Former Albion trainee and great nephew of Seagulls chairman Dick Knight, Michael Standing wasted a good chance from the resulting corner when he fired wide after finding space on the edge of the box.

Crawley survived another scare on 14 minutes after some poor finishing by a local lad let them off the hook.

Jamie Taylor, who grew up in Crawley and still lives in Furnace Green, looked odds-on to add to his recent good run of seven goals in six games when the ball dropped to him six yards from goal but somehow he blasted high over.

Grays were almost made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal just after the half hour when Kieran Murphy rattled the woodwork with Crawley's only other opportunity of the first half.

The defender scored his first goal since joining on loan from MK Dons in October on Saturday and almost added another with a hooked cross-shot which bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Kedwell, who scored two penalties at the Rec three weeks ago, showed the threat he posed again just before the break when he fizzed a low shot just wide.

Crawley made the perfect start to the second half when Mustapha Carayol scored almost straight from the kick-off.

The lively winger, who was making a rare start after Evans decided to rest Ryan Hall, linked up with Thompson on a quick break, cut inside on to his right foot and slotted into the bottom corner.

Grays almost hit back five minutes later when Barry Cogan had the ball taken off his toe two yards from goal from Kedwell's cross by the sliding Lee Blackburn.

Reds had a couple of chances to extend their lead before Grays levelled.

Thompson had a low, dragged shot well saved by Eyre on the hour, then Thomas Pinault flashed a 20-yard drive wide with ten minutes to go.

The equaliser came four minutes later following a scramble in the Reds box. Neil McCafferty drilled a low cross through a crowded penalty area and fellow substitute Jeff Goulding turned in from close range.

Parity only lasted two minutes, however, after the visitors had been reduced to ten men.

Captain Jamie Stuart was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Cook, who picked himself up to drill the free-kick through the wall and into the bottom corner.

Crawley Town: Bayes, Wilson, Murphy, Stevens, Krause, Blackburn (sub Thomas 90), Bulman, Pinault, Carayol, Thompson, Cook. Subs not used: Hall, Carter, Nayee, Raynor.

Booked: Wilson (69) dissent.

Grays Athletic: Eyre, Gross, Stuart, Downer, Thurgood, O'Connor, Ashton, Cogan (sub Goulding 66), Standing (sub McCafferty 71), Kedwell (sub S.Taylor 78), J.Taylor. Subs: Whincup, Saunders.

Booked: Stuart (20) foul, Downer (58) foul.

Sent off: Stuart (85) foul.

Is match-winner Jamie Cook Crawley's player-of-the-season?