4:31pm Wednesday 1st September 2010
UNLUCKY Scott Bartlett and Gavin Caines saw red for Forest Green in 12 crazy second half minutes, where Crawley were also reduced to nine men, in a topsy-turvy Bank Holiday Monday clash.
An unfortunate red card for Bartlett on his Rovers debut was followed six minutes later by the dismissal of Crawley's Kyle McFadzean.
Home keeper Michel Kuipers was sent off for the second time this season in an extraordinary second half which also saw substitute goalkeeper Nick Jordan save a penalty from Forest Green’s Jon Else.
Within a minute Caines had been shown a straight red for an alleged professional foul on Matt Tubbs, who picked himself up and settled the game from the spot.
Earlier, Rovers defended superbly. A combination of goalkeeper James Bittner and player-coach Craig Armstrong kept out a Tubbs shot on the half-hour, while the dangerous Sergio Torres created space for himself to bring a fine block from Forest Green captain Luke Jones.
However, Rovers rallied and in the closing five minutes of the first half, a Lee Fowler free-kick almost broke for Reece Styche.
Crawley left-back Simon Rusk saved his side in stoppage time, heading off the line after Jones had soared to meet Fowler's corner.
Bittner made two fine saves at the start of the second period.
Seconds later Tubbs produced a hot shot on the turn, but again he was foiled by former Salisbury City team-mate Bittner.
The game exploded into life when Bartlett and McFadzean were sent off for second yellow cards.
Kuipers walked for clouting Reece Styche after he gathered a free kick but Jordan saved the resultant spot kick.
He then launched a clearance upfield which Tubbs raced on to only to be felled by Caines.
The incident took place outside the penalty area but the referee pointed to the spot and Tubbs lashed in his fourth goal of the season.
Styche tried to rescue an unlikely draw, only to be kept out by some last-ditch blocks, while Lee Smith sliced a chance wide at the death.
Crawley Town: Kuipers, Mills, Wilson, Hall, Quinn, McFadzean, Rusk, Torres, Neilson (Hutchinson 77), Tubbs (Wright 81), McAllister (Jordan 71). Subs Not Used: Flood, Reason.
Forest Green: Bittner, Bartlett, Caines, Luke Jones, Armstrong (Smith 89), Herring, Mike Fowler (McDonald 75), Lee Fowler, Else (Davies 79), Klukowski, Styche. Subs Not Used: Zak Jones, Grimes.
Att: 1,458.
Ref: S Cook (England).
* Forest Green defender Callum Henry has gone out on loan to Frome Town of the Zamaretto League Division One South and West to get experience.
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