Crawley Town got the new SkyBet League One season off to almost the perfect start after beating Blackpool 2-1 at Broadfield Stadium.
First half goals from Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Armando Junior Quitirna put the Reds in control at the break.
And they looked set for a comfortable win over the Seasiders but Ashley Fletcher’s opportunist goal set up a tense finale, however the hosts held on to claim all three points.
Team news
It’s been a summer of change on the pitch for Crawley, and Scott Lindsey could only name two of the 11 who started the League Two Play-Off Final win at Wembley in the starting line-up.
That included handing Max Anderson and Josh Flint full EFL debuts, and the Reds looked to take the game to Blackpool in the early stages.
Having just missed out on the play-offs last term, hopes would’ve been high for Neil Critchley’s side, who had the first chance of the game when Olly Casey met Lee Evans’ free-kick – but his diving header was well held by Jojo Wollacott.
Reds strike early
It was Crawley who broke the deadlock just after the 15 minute mark. Jeremy Kelly released Hepburn-Murphy down the right, and the forward broke clear before lifting the ball past Daniel Grimshaw and into the far corner.
The visitors looked for an immediate response, with Jordan Rhodes seeing his near post effort well blocked by Joy Mukena, before Hepburn-Murphy opened up to shoot at the other end but fired high and wide.
Reds – many people’s favourites a swift drop back to League Two – then doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break.
Ronan Darcy did well to pounce on a loose ball and find Quitirna on the left. The winger then drove inside the area, before seeing his shot take a deflection off Matt Pennington to lift the ball over Grimshaw and into the far corner.
Wollacott had little to do in the first half at Broadfield, but the visitors did go within a whisker of halving the deficit with the last kick of the opening 45 minutes – Ollie Norburn seeing a low drive hit the outside of the post and go wide.
Crawley looked to contain the visitors’ threat at the start of the second period, with Sonny Carey dragging an effort from 18 yards wide of the target.
Anderson then had half a chance at the other end – but drilled it wide of the post before both teams made changes as the game became less fluid.
Pool pull one back
With the hosts looking comfortable, Blackpool were given a lifeline with 15 minutes to go.
Moments after coming on for his debut, Fletcher closed down Wollacott and the goalkeeper’s clearance came back off the forward and into the net.
Fellow substitute Elliot Embleton then tested Wollacott with a curling effort that the Reds keeper parried away as pressure increased.
However, it was Crawley who should have restored their two-goal cushion late on. Sub Ade Adeyemo was released by Panutche Camara to go through on goal, but was denied by the advancing Grimshaw.
Camara, who rejoined Crawley this week from Ipswich Town, then had a golden chance himself in stoppage time, but was thwarted by Grimshaw but it ultimately didn’t prove costly as Crawley sealed a big win in front of a buoyant home crowd in West Sussex.
Player of the Match
Josh Flint was awarded the Player of the Match, and few could argue with the decision as it was announced over the PA system.
Boss Lindsey admitted after the game that Flint was brought in to the team for his ability on playing the ball from the back, but his performance on the opening day of the new season showed he is much more than that.
He gave Crawley a presence at the back, particularly when defending from set-pieces, and was a dominant force in the air throughout.
