Nick Ajose struck late on to secure a shock win for League One Crawley over Bolton and send Wanderers out of the Capital One Cup.

Benik Afobe, on-loan from Arsenal, gave the Championship side the lead when he scored in the 21st minute.

But substitute Billy Clarke equalised with nine minutes remaining, drilling a low effort into the net.

With extra time looming, Ajose scored in the 92nd minute to put Crawley through to the third round.

Crawley boast a good pedigree of knocking Championship sides out of cup competitions, having seen off Derby, Bristol City, Hull City and Millwall since January 2011.

They started well against Bolton as Kyle McFadzean struck the crossbar with a header inside the first few minutes.

However, the visitors took the lead with their first meaningful effort as Martin Petrov poked the ball through to Afobe and the striker rounded the Crawley keeper before finishing.

Despite that setback, Crawley continued to create chances as Ajose dragged a shot wide from distance before Nicky Adams's shot was deflected wide.

Clarke was introduced from the substitutes' bench in the 75th minute and needed just six minutes to make a telling contribution, equalising with a crisply-hit low effort.

The game look destined for extra time but Ajose headed beyond Bolton goalkeeper Andy Lonergan from Clarke's late cross to seal victory.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOMS

Crawley boss Richie Barker told BBC Sussex :

"I thought it was a fantastic game of football and we deserved to win it.

"I said to the players at half-time that 5 to 10 per-cent more self-belief would win the game and I felt that even though it didn't look like it was going to be our day, the self-belief kicked in and we deserved it.

"The third round is the furthest I've ever reached as a manager, it's a good bit of history and who know where we might be in a couple of weeks time."

Bolton boss Owen Coyle: "We lost a game we should have won. You are never safe at 1-0 and we conceded two soft goals.

"We made changes and it was important those young players got games.

"We had enough good players to win but fair play to Crawley. Having said that we should have seen the game through. We were in a good position to win but we didn't manage it."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Crawley Town

  • 01 Jones
  • 03 Sadler
  • 04 Connolly
  • 05 McFadzean
  • 28 Davis Booked
  • 06 Akpan
  • 08 Torres (Bulman - 46' )
  • 16 Adams
  • 18 Cooper (Clarke - 75' )
  • 10 Forte
  • 14 Ajose

Substitutes

  • 25 Kuipers
  • 13 Hunt
  • 07 Clarke
  • 11 Simpson
  • 15 Bulman
  • 22 Neilson
  • 17 Akinde

Bolton Wanderers

  • 24 Lonergan
  • 03 Alonso Booked
  • 05 Ream
  • 12 Knight
  • 23 Riley
  • 07 Eagles
  • 08 Andrews
  • 10 Petrov
  • 16 M Davies (K Davies - 72' )
  • 25 Vela (Pratley - 7' Booked )
  • 17 Afobe (Sordell - 57' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Bogdan
  • 04 Mills
  • 18 Ricketts
  • 11 Wylde
  • 21 Pratley
  • 14 K Davies
  • 19 Sordell
Ref: Scott
Att: 2,678

Match Stats

Shots

15 8

On target

4 5

Corners

5 3

Fouls

7 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:48 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:23

Tim Ream challenges Nick Ajose unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Billy Clarke.

90:00 +1:42

Billy Clarke provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +1:42 Goal scored

Goal - Nick Ajose - Crawley 2 - 1 Bolton Nick Ajose grabs a headed goal from inside the area. Crawley Town 2-1 Bolton.

90:00 +0:30

Shot by Nick Ajose from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

89:24

Billy Clarke produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

88:36 Booking

Booking Darren Pratley is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

86:56

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marvin Sordell. Paul Jones takes the free kick.

86:42

Martin Petrov takes a shot. Paul Jones makes a save.

86:22

Chris Eagles takes a shot. Save made by Paul Jones.

85:31

Claude Davis is adjudged to have handled the ball. Direct free kick taken by Keith Andrews.

83:45

The ball is swung over by Chris Eagles, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Marcos Alonso misses to the right of the goal.

83:45 Booking

Booking Claude Davis booked.

83:38

Claude Davis concedes a free kick for a foul on Martin Petrov.

82:53

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Hope Akpan goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

80:10 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Clarke - Crawley 1 - 1 Bolton Goal scored by Billy Clarke from just outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Crawley Town 1-1 Bolton.

78:17

Short corner worked by Nicky Adams.

77:13

Marvin Sordell is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Jones.

76:58

Martin Petrov takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post.

75:06

Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams from the left by-line, clearance made by Martin Petrov.

74:44

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Blocked by Tim Ream.

74:11

Kevin Davies is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.

74:11 Substitution

Substitution Billy Clarke replaces Shaun Cooper.

73:15

Nick Ajose has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

71:09

Martin Petrov takes a outswinging corner.

71:09 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Davies is brought on as a substitute for Mark Davies.

68:35

The assistant referee signals for offside against Mat Sadler. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.

63:36

Nick Ajose is caught offside. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.

62:59

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Mat Sadler goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

55:52 Substitution

Substitution Marvin Sordell comes on in place of Benik Afobe.

53:25

Nicky Adams produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

52:54

Corner taken by Chris Eagles from the right by-line, Zat Knight takes a shot. Nicky Adams makes a clearance.

52:08

Effort on goal by Shaun Cooper from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

51:38

The assistant referee signals for offside against Hope Akpan. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.

51:10

The assistant referee flags for offside against Benik Afobe. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.

49:31

Martin Petrov takes a shot. Paul Jones makes a save.

48:31

Header by Nick Ajose from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Dannie Bulman replaces Sergio Torres.

45:00 +3:02 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

43:11

Joe Riley is ruled offside. Paul Jones takes the free kick.

41:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Zat Knight on Jonathan Forte. Mat Sadler takes the direct free kick.

41:26

Zat Knight produces a right-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.

41:12

Keith Andrews takes a shot. Kyle McFadzean gets a block in.

40:07

Darren Pratley fouled by Claude Davis, the ref awards a free kick. Martin Petrov restarts play with the free kick.

37:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sergio Torres by Darren Pratley. Direct free kick taken by Kyle McFadzean.

36:45

Nick Ajose challenges Keith Andrews unfairly and gives away a free kick. Martin Petrov takes the free kick.

35:59

The official flags Nick Ajose offside. Keith Andrews takes the indirect free kick.

35:36

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.

33:38

Kyle McFadzean fouled by Benik Afobe, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Jones takes the direct free kick.

30:36

Chris Eagles is adjudged to have handled the ball. Shaun Cooper produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

29:38

The assistant referee flags for offside against Benik Afobe. Paul Jones takes the free kick.

26:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Connolly by Marcos Alonso.

26:18

Paul Jones takes the free kick.

26:18 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Marcos Alonso for unsporting behaviour.

22:59

Kyle McFadzean gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Benik Afobe. Andy Lonergan takes the direct free kick.

22:26

Corner from the left by-line taken by Nicky Adams, clearance made by Tim Ream.

20:24

Assist by Martin Petrov.

20:24 Goal scored

Goal - Benik Afobe - Crawley 0 - 1 Bolton A goal is scored by Benik Afobe from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Crawley Town 0-1 Bolton.

16:03

Joe Riley concedes a free kick for a foul on Sergio Torres. Direct free kick taken by Mat Sadler.

15:32

Foul by Nick Ajose on Tim Ream, free kick awarded. Keith Andrews takes the free kick.

12:41

Nick Ajose is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Zat Knight takes the free kick.

12:09

Nicky Adams concedes a free kick for a foul on Marcos Alonso. Mark Davies takes the direct free kick.

11:09

The referee blows for offside against Benik Afobe. Free kick taken by Kyle McFadzean.

9:06

Corner from the left by-line taken by Nicky Adams, Kyle McFadzean takes a shot.

7:59

Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams, Darren Pratley makes a clearance.

6:14 Substitution

Substitution Joshua Vela leaves the field to be replaced by Darren Pratley.

2:32

Shaun Cooper gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joshua Vela. Direct free kick taken by Martin Petrov.

1:47

Shaun Cooper has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

0:28

Keith Andrews gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sergio Torres. Free kick taken by Kyle McFadzean.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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