Yems slams schoolboy errors as Reds falter

JOHN YEMS lashed his Crawley side for defending “like schoolboys” after they conceded twice in the final ten minutes to be denied victory.

Two goals by striker Tom Nichols had appeared to have put the Reds on their way to a much-needed home win.

But substitute Arthur Read gave Stevenage hope with a tremendous shot into the top corner and skipper Scott Cuthbert completed the comeback from close range in the first minute of added time.

Head coach Yems fumed: “In the last ten minutes we defended like schoolboys. It feels like we’ve been mugged.”

Late goals at Carlisle and Swindon have also cost Crawley points in recent games, and Yems added: “It should have been three points on the board.

“It was kamikaze football. I think next time we’ll go out with samurai swords.”

Crawley, with only one win from their previous seven home league games, threatened early on when Jordan Tunnicliffe released Nichols and his goalbound shot was turned round the post by keeper Christy Pym.

Pym was worked again when he held a low shot from James Tilley before veteran keeper Glenn Morris dived to gather

Jamie Reid’s attempt on goal at the other end.

Nichols broke the deadlock with only his second home league goal in the past 11 months when he scored from close range after Isaac Hutchinson had headed back a corner from Jack Powell in the 34th minute.

Nichols doubled the advantage 16 seconds after the restart when he latched on to an attempted back pass by Luke O’Neil to fire past the helpless Pym.

Nichols could have bagged a third goal in the 71st minute when set up by substitute Ashley Nadesan, but he shot over from a good position.

Read then gave Stevenage hope by firing into the top corner before Cuthbert completed the comeback.

Borough boss Paul Tisdale said he was proud of the way his side fought back but added: “I was pleased to be only two goals down as Crawley were the better side for an hour and had chances for a third.

“As a team we are making progress and we gained more than a point today in the spirit we showed.”