Mark Yates has told on-loan striker Liam McAlinden he richly deserved his first goal for Crawley.

The Reds boss has also challenged young goalkeeper Callum Preston to stake his claim for next season after helping secure a 2-2 draw at lowly York City yesterday.

Reds extended their unbeaten run to a season’s best of five games but might have won given that they led twice through Matt Harrold and McAlinden, who is on loan from Wolves.

There was reason at both ends of the pitch for Yates to be happy.

He said: “Liam was a constant threat in the first half. I thought he was our stand-out player in the first half and he got his reward with a goal.

“Then the work rate and the running he put in for the team was brilliant and he will be well pleased with his goal and his game.

“The only complaint I have is we didn’t keep our foot on the pedal.

“We had them. They looked nervous and I understand that, given the position they are in, but we allowed them to edge their way back into the game.

“We could have been talking about three points but it was a fair result.”

It took a special goal to deny Reds maximum points as Michael Coulson curled a beauty inside the far top corner.

Harrold gave Reds a fifth-minute lead by cleverly lifting the ball over former Albion goalkeeper Scott Flinders after Simon Walton’s long free-kick into the box was not dealt with.

Luke Summerfield cancelled that out from the penalty spot on the half-hour after the otherwise excellent Jon Ashton fouled Lewis Alessandra.

Vadaine Oliver was guilty of a bad miss for York right on half-time when he dragged a shot wide. They were punished in the 48th minute when McAlinden struck at the far post after a long throw was flicked on.

His left-foot finish did not seem to be truly struck but he kept the ball down and it had enough pace to beat Flinders.

Preston made a couple of super saves, notably from Summerfield’s shot, before Coulson salvaged the point for a home side who really needed all three.

Reds might have had a chance to win it from the spot late on when they thought Lewis Young was pulled back – but play was waved on.

Preston started between the sticks after Paul Jones was recalled from loan by parent club Portsmouth.Yates will give midweek loan addition Jack Rose “a couple of games” in the run-in but added: “Callum has got his chance to stake his claim for next year as well. I thought he did well.”

Joe McNerney returned to the Crawley bench after injury but Lee Barnard (calf) and Roarie Deacon (groin) were both ruled out.

MATCH FACTS

York: Flinders, Hendrie, Winfield, Boyle, Ilesanmi, Penn, Bennett (Coulson 59), Summerfield, Galbraith (McEvoy 59), Alessandra, Oliver (Thompson 74). Subs not used: Berrett, Riordan, Dixon, Ingham.

Goals: Summerfield pen 30, Coulson 69.

Yellow card: None.

Crawley Town: Preston, Bond, Bradley, Ashton, Dunne, Edwards (Fenelon 85), Sutherland, Walton, Della Verde (Young 70), McAlinden, Harrold (Tomlin 90). Subs not used: Rose, McNerney, Bawling.

Goals: Harrold 5, McAlinden 48.

Yellow card: Walton (63) foul.

Referee: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands).

Attendance: 2,942 (144 away).