Crawley breezed into the FA Cup third round at the expense of Chelmsford.

Red midfielder Nicky Adams opened the scoring when his cross-shot crept in at the near post.

Blue Square Bet South side Chelmsford were reduced to 10 men when Donovan Simmonds picked up his second yellow, and Billy Clarke's volley made it 2-0 before half-time.

Gary Alexander's late penalty - awarded after Anthony Cook brought down Sergio Torres - put the result beyond doubt.

The visitors had keeper Stuart Searle to thank for keeping the score down, the former Crawley man saving well from Hope Akpan and Alexander in the second half.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Crawley Town boss Richie Barker told BBC Sussex:

"I thought the players attitude was fantastic right from the first minute, they were excellent.

"The extra money in the next round would be great. Helping the football club with a big draw would make a difference to us.

"Over the last few years this club have had some decent ties, but we won't be getting too carried away yet."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Crawley Town

  • 01 Jones
  • 03 Sadler
  • 04 Connolly
  • 13 Hunt
  • 28 Davis
  • 06 Akpan (Bulman - 82' )
  • 07 Clarke (Akinde - 71' )
  • 08 Torres
  • 11 Simpson
  • 16 Adams (Jones - 80' )
  • 09 Alexander

Substitutes

  • 25 Kuipers
  • 12 Walsh
  • 19 Byrne
  • 20 Wassmer
  • 15 Bulman
  • 21 Jones
  • 17 Akinde

Chelmsford

  • 01 Searle
  • 02 Brindley (Hamilton - 76' )
  • 03 Palmer
  • 04 Miller
  • 05 Hains
  • 06 Cornhill
  • 07 Cook Booked
  • 08 Rainford
  • 11 Welsh (Corcoran - 48' )
  • 09 Slabber (Edmans - 71' )
  • 10 Simmonds Dismissed after an earlier booking

Substitutes

  • 19 Wooton
  • 12 Bender
  • 18 Tann
  • 15 Corcoran
  • 16 Edmans
  • 17 Hamilton
  • 14 Calver
Ref: Sarginson
Att: 3,012

Match Stats

Shots

38 1

On target

21 0

Corners

9 0

Fouls

6 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:04 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +3:00

Sam Corcoran concedes a free kick for a foul on Mike Jones. Mike Jones crosses the ball in from the free kick.

90:00 +1:13

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

88:57

The assist for the goal came from Sergio Torres.

88:57 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Alexander - Crawley 3 - 0 Chelmsford Placed penalty scored by Gary Alexander. Crawley Town 3-0 Chelmsford.

88:26 Booking

Booking Anthony Cook is booked.

87:50

Foul by Anthony Cook on Sergio Torres, Penalty awarded.

87:02

David Rainford fouled by Dannie Bulman, the ref awards a free kick. Stuart Searle takes the free kick.

86:25

Short corner worked by Mike Jones, Dannie Bulman takes a shot. Blocked by Justin Miller.

83:50

John Akinde gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Haines. Stuart Searle takes the direct free kick.

82:44

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Mat Sadler, John Akinde takes a shot. Fantastic save by Stuart Searle.

81:45 Substitution

Substitution Dannie Bulman on for Hope Akpan.

81:26

Gary Alexander produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

80:48

Mat Sadler takes a inswinging corner.

79:15 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Adams goes off and Mike Jones comes on.

78:54

Close range header by John Akinde goes wide of the left-hand post.

77:27

Headed effort from inside the area by John Akinde misses to the right of the target.

76:00 Substitution

Substitution Bradley Hamilton on for Richard Brindley.

74:56

Gary Alexander takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Searle.

73:50

Josh Simpson takes a shot. Save by Stuart Searle.

71:21

The referee blows for offside against Nicky Adams. Free kick taken by Stuart Searle.

70:56 Substitution

Substitution John Akinde replaces Billy Clarke.

70:20 Substitution

Substitution Robert Edmans comes on in place of Jamie Slabber.

70:06

Nicky Adams has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

69:12

Gary Alexander takes a shot. Save by Stuart Searle.

66:40

Billy Clarke produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

65:36

Gary Alexander takes a shot. Max Cornhill gets a block in.

63:44

The offside flag is raised against Jamie Slabber. Indirect free kick taken by Mark Connolly.

63:24

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Searle.

62:04

Effort on goal by Josh Simpson from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

61:18

Hope Akpan takes a shot. Save by Stuart Searle. Corner taken by Nicky Adams, Max Cornhill manages to make a clearance.

60:33

Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams from the right by-line, Stuart Searle makes a save.

57:23

Shot from long distance by Mark Connolly bounces off the post.

56:18

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sam Corcoran by Hope Akpan. Max Cornhill takes the direct free kick.

54:10

Effort from just outside the box by Hope Akpan goes over the bar.

53:05

Sergio Torres takes a shot and went wide of the right hand upright.

52:30

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Justin Miller gets a block in. Corner from the left by-line taken by Nicky Adams, save by Stuart Searle.

51:45

Jamie Slabber is caught offside. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.

50:14

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams, Close range header by Claude Davis goes over the bar.

49:46

Foul by Mark Haines on Gary Alexander, free kick awarded. Billy Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

47:31 Substitution

Substitution Sam Corcoran joins the action as a substitute, replacing Ishmael Welsh.

46:46

Short corner taken by Nicky Adams from the left by-line.

45:47

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Max Cornhill gets a block in.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +2:55 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +2:07

Hope Akpan takes a shot. Stuart Searle makes a save.

45:00 +1:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ishmael Welsh by David Hunt. Anthony Cook delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing.

45:00 +0:30

Billy Clarke produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

44:12

Hope Akpan takes a shot.

40:25

Assist by David Hunt.

40:25 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Clarke - Crawley 2 - 0 Chelmsford Goal scored by Billy Clarke from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Crawley Town 2-0 Chelmsford.

35:25

The referee blows for offside against Sergio Torres. Free kick taken by Stuart Searle.

34:30

Mark Connolly restarts play with the free kick.

34:30 Dismissal

Dismissal Donovan Simmonds dismissed for second bookable offence.

34:10

Mat Sadler fouled by Donovan Simmonds, the ref awards a free kick.

32:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Rainford on Mark Connolly. Direct free kick taken by Mat Sadler.

29:43

Mat Sadler produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

29:05

David Rainford has an effort at goal from long distance that misses to the right of the goal.

26:56

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Haines.

26:12

Sergio Torres fouled by Max Cornhill, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Jones takes the direct free kick.

25:29

Sergio Torres takes a shot. Justin Miller gets a block in. Hope Akpan takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Searle.

24:16

Unfair challenge on Hope Akpan by Anthony Cook results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Nicky Adams.

22:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Slabber by Mark Connolly. Direct free kick taken by Anthony Cook. Assist by Josh Simpson.

22:17 Goal scored

Goal - Nicky Adams - Crawley 1 - 0 Chelmsford Nicky Adams fires in a goal from the edge of the area low into the middle of the goal. Crawley Town 1-0 Chelmsford.

20:33

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Searle.

19:38

Unfair challenge on Richard Brindley by Sergio Torres results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Haines.

19:15

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Blocked by Justin Miller.

18:34

The referee blows for offside against Gary Alexander. Free kick taken by Stuart Searle.

17:57

Jamie Slabber gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Connolly. Direct free kick taken by Mark Connolly.

14:27

Sergio Torres takes a shot. Gary Alexander produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

11:37

Gary Alexander takes a shot. Mark Haines gets a block in. Josh Simpson takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Searle.

9:18

Mark Connolly takes the free kick.

9:18 Booking

Booking Donovan Simmonds receives a caution.

8:36

Nicky Adams fouled by Donovan Simmonds, the ref awards a free kick.

0:38

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Richard Brindley gets a block in. Nicky Adams takes the inswinging corner, Hope Akpan has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

0:00

The game begins.

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