A DISAPPOINTING afternoon for the travelling Wrexham supporters as they watched their side fail to score against Crawley Town for the third consecutive time, despite a very promising start to this Blue Square Premier match.

It was also so different early on as within 30 seconds of kick-off, a ball was played round the back allowing Matty Wolfenden to turn his marker Chris Giles in the box. The Wrexham striker was wrestled by Giles, but still managed to get in a shot that keeper Simon Raynor saved.

But why referee Malone thought that the Crawley defender's actions were not worthy of a stonewall penalty was certainly a mystery to Dean Saunders, who was left to remonstrate with the fourth official.

A Mark Jones corner on three minutes was played towards the penalty spot, where Gareth Taylor made good contact with the ball, but his effort was blocked by the face of .

Moments later Taylor picked out the over lapping Adrian Cieslewicz , the Pole racing forward down the right, but with three blue shirts to pick from in the Crawley box, he pulled back his cross too much and the danger was snuffed out.

Next up on seven minutes, Hedi Taboubi thought about chipping keeper Raynor, but laid the ball to his left and Jones tried his luck from 22-yards, but his effort carried over the home crossbar.

The home side should have scored on 17 minutes whena short corner was crossed in by Simon Rusk to Eddie Hutchinson at the back post, but the former Oxford United man blazed over the target when well placed just a few yards out.

The game entered into a period of scrappy, with Crawley enjoying more possession than they had in the opening quarter.

From a Wrexham free kick deep in theirown half, Taboubi fired a long pass down the right wing for Cieslewicz, the youngster again breaking at speed, but his cross from the line was cut out as red shirts swarmed back to cover.

On 34 minutes,Charles Ademeno took advantage of an error by Obeng to head for goal and although the angle was tight his final shot was always rising over Russell and into the Wrexham fans.

With three minutes of the half remaining, a Wrexham throw in went short to Taboubi who's cross was collected by the leaping Raynor, going high over Gareth Taylor.

Crawley then won a free kick, which was delivered into the danger zone, dropping for skipper Giles, who had a clear sight of goal, but his shot was straight at Russell.

HT

Crawley took the lead on 50 minutes, when from a Wrexham corner Ademeno broke on the right to stretch the Wrexham defence. The winger looked up and squared for Jamie Cook on the edge of the visitor's box, Taboubi did his best to hold up the striker without fouling him, and although Neil Taylor dived in front of the Crawley man his shot was good enough to beat Russell.

In response, Wrexham made a double substitution with Marc Williams on alongside Taylor and Wolfenden switching to the wing, then Silvio Spann was introduced on the right wing - Andy Fleming and Cieslewicz making way.

On 58 minutes, Hutchinson tripped Mark Jones from behind on the edge of the box, but while the free kick was given no yellow card was shown. The ball was played quickly down the side of the box by Taboubi, but Spann's run was spotted by the home defence.

Booked -
Crawley: Cook (90 time wasting)