Just back from (U23) game...

On a cold and misty Halloween evening at the Checkatrade.com Stadium (still Broadfield for the purists) in Crawley there was no repeat of the nightmare that unfolded on Saturday, although there were a few scares down the right of the City defence.

A relatively strong team with a smattering of first-team experience took to the field but is was Brighton who had the best of the early exchanges culminating with a corner for the Seagulls which was claimed assuredly by Killip in the City goal.

After 10 minutes, some good play down the left saw Ebou Adams get a sight of goal but his shot was high and five minutes later, Canos was wide of the goal with a strike after being put through by Cantwell.

Brighton were dangerous down the left with their left-back Cox looking menacing every time he stormed forward. It was no surprise that after the 3rd or 4th time he left Efete for dead the whipped in centre was tucked away neatly from the edge of the six-yard box to make it 1-0 to Brighton in the 26th minute.

Just three minutes later Jaiyesimi had a great chance to equalise. He was put through after a neat exchange between Cantwell and Adams but his lob beat both the keeper and the post.

It was a corner in the 36th minute that led to the City equaliser with Canos nipping in to flick the ball home from the near-post corner, 1-1.

The first half was petering out when a needless challenge by Morris earned him the first yellow card of the game.

The second half, in comparison to the first, was much more scrappy and the teams appeared to cancel each other out. Brighton had the best chance from a free kick on the left which was floated to the far post and nodded back for a snapshot from close range. Killip made a fine save to keep City on terms.

Both Canos, who blasted over from the edge of the box, and Morris, who had a shot deflected for a corner had chances but their didn't seem to be much chance of another goal.

Only when Glen Middleton replaced Canos for the last ten minutes did City look like making anything count. Middleton was neat, tidy and energetic and caused Brighton problems down the left wing but City couldn't find another real chance.

Full time; 1-1 - probably a fair result.

Posted By: Worthing Yellow, Oct 31, 22:29:48