Match ends, Crawley Town 3, Grimsby Town 0.
CrawleyCrawley Town3GrimsbyGrimsby Town0
In-form Crawley made it seven wins in their past eight games with a convincing victory over struggling Grimsby.
Jimmy Smith's first-half penalty was added to by goals Karlan Ahearne-Grant and Enzio Boldewijn in the second half to move Harry Kewell's side four points off the play-offs.
The result increased the pressure on Mariners boss Russell Slade, whose team are winless in 12 matches, over which time they have scored only four goals.
Grimsby were put under pressure mid-way through the first half when Dutch striker Thomas Verheydt had a low shot saved by goalkeeper Ben Killip after skipper Smith's effort was parried.
Keeper Glenn Morris came to Crawley's rescue at the other end by smothering a goal-bound shot from Mallik Wilks.
Crawley broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when Boldewijn was brought down by Luke Summerfield, and Smith stroked home his seventh goal of the season from the penalty spot.
The hosts came close to doubling their advantage shortly after the break when, from a pass by Ahearne-Grant, Boldewijn put a deflected shot just wide.
Crawley's second goal did, however, arrive in the 62nd minute as Ahearne- Grant, on loan from Charlton, scored his second goal in as many games with an unstoppable right-foot shot from the edge of the area.
Boldewijn sealed Crawley's comfortable win in the 69th minute by neatly chipping Killip from a deft pass by substitute Mark Randall.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Crawley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Morris
- 22Lelan
- 6Connolly
- 15YorwerthBooked at 39mins
- 3Doherty
- 2YoungSubstituted forRandallat 61'minutes
- 21Bulman
- 8SmithSubstituted forPayneat 72'minutes
- 7Boldewijn
- 9Ahearne-GrantSubstituted forSanohat 80'minutes
- 23Verheydt
Substitutes
- 4Payne
- 5McNerney
- 12Mersin
- 19Evina
- 20Tajbakhsh
- 25Randall
- 27Sanoh
Grimsby
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 30Killip
- 12Mills
- 14Osborne
- 5Clarke
- 3Dixon
- 25Woolford
- 19Summerfield
- 7Berrett
- 18WilksBooked at 10minsSubstituted forKellyat 45'minutes
- 34VernamSubstituted forHooperat 70'minutes
- 39Jackson
Substitutes
- 9Hooper
- 11Kelly
- 16Suliman
- 21Vernon
- 29Matt
- 31Hall-Johnson
- 35Warrington
- Referee:
- Kevin Johnson
- Attendance:
- 2,055
Match Stats
Home TeamCrawleyAway TeamGrimsby
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home2
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crawley Town 3, Grimsby Town 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luke Summerfield (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Foul by Mark Randall (Crawley Town).
Post update
Sam Kelly (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Mark Randall (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Simeon Jackson (Grimsby Town).
Post update
Corner, Grimsby Town. Conceded by Josh Yorwerth.
Post update
Enzio Boldewijn (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by JJ Hooper (Grimsby Town).
Post update
Hand ball by Thomas Verheydt (Crawley Town).
Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Doherty (Crawley Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Moussa Sanoh replaces Karlan Ahearne-Grant.
Post update
Foul by Josh Payne (Crawley Town).
Post update
Luke Summerfield (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sam Kelly (Grimsby Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Martyn Woolford (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Thomas Verheydt (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Nathan Clarke (Grimsby Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Josh Payne replaces Jimmy Smith.
