Coulson’s late show can’t ease York pain
YORK City manager Jackie McNamara was frustrated his side could only pick up a point against Crawley in their quest for Football League survival.
Matt Harrold gave Crawley an early lead, before York equalised through a Luke Summerfield penalty after great play by Lewis Alessandra.
Crawley regained the lead thanks to Liam McAlinden, before substitute Michael Coulson secured the Minstermen a point, but McNamara felt it should have been more.
“It’s two points dropped we should have won that, like the last home game,” he said.
“Chances wise I think we’re going forward, in terms of normal play and open play they didn’t cause us any problems.
“We lost two very poor goals. From a free-kick and long ball up that has a bit of indecision, and then the second one from the long throw-in shouldn’t happen.
“We put in so much hard work, which has come undone. I don’t think Scott [Flinders] had a save to make the entire match, and that’s the most frustrating thing.”
The Minstermen started poorly, and fell behind when they failed to deal with a Simon Walton freekick into the box, which allowed Harrold to lob the stranded goalkeeper.
York hit back on the half-hour mark when Summerfield sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot after Alessandra was fouled following some skilful dribbling.
Crawley started the second half as they did the first, and regained their lead following a leftfooted finish across the keeper by McAlinden, after an Andy Bond long throw.
The Minstermen almost hit back immediately, but Callum Preston produced an incredible save to deny Summerfield’s close-range volley.
However Preston was helpless when substitute Coulson equalised for the hosts with a beautiful curled rightfooted shot into the top-right corner.
Both teams pushed for a winner late-on without creating any clear-cut chances, meaning the game ended as a draw, extending Crawley’s unbeaten run to five games.
“I thought we started great, we were on top, I thought we looked strong and we were causing them problems,” Crawley manager Mark Yates said.
“The only complaint I have from the whole game really is that we didn’t keep our foot on the pedal.
“We had them, they looked nervous, and I can understand that with the situation they’re in. But we just allowed them to edge their way back into the game.
“We could easily be talking about an away win and three points but I think all in all it’s fair.”