Bayes The Hero For Crawley

Last updated : 28 August 2007 By Stray Shots Team

Evans has been one of Bayes' biggest critics since the experienced stopper arrived from Grays in the summer.

He felt the well-travelled 35-year-old had not hit top form in the first four games of the season.

But he was only too happy to have his harsh words shoved back down his throat after seeing Bayes give a goalkeeping masterclass as a depleted Reds produced a smash-and-grab raid at Aldershot.

The Reds number one made a vital block with his legs to deny Anthony Straker just before half-time.

He tipped a fizzing free-kick by Scott Davies onto an upright moments after Crawley had gone ahead on 53 minutes and then pulled off a similar stop to his first 60 second later from former Reds loanee Johnny Dixon.

Bayes made his best stop 16 minutes from time when he pawed away Davies' long-range effort as ten-man Reds clung on for three crucial points.

He also had the woodwork to thank for his first clean sheet of the campaign after seeing a thumping header by defender Rhys Day hit the bar and a drive by substitute Louis Soares come back off a post.

Evans said: "He has had his critic and that has been me because I expect more from him. That is the type of performance we expect from him. He held every cross, he had three or four ricochets in front of him and he moved his feet well.

"He has taken a few smashings from me at times and quite rightly, he would accept that, but he was quite simply the man-of-the-match by a country mile."

Reds had to play the last 24 minutes with ten men after goalscorer Jon-Paul Pittman was sent off for two bookable offences.

He picked up his first caution for over-celebrating the winning goal after he nodded in Dannie Bulman's free-kick unmarked from ten yards.

He ran along the touchline and exchanged high-fives with Evans and the substitutes, which was seen as inciting the boisterous home fans.

The striker saw red after sliding in and catching right-back Lewis Chalmers a fraction after he had played the ball.

Evans said: "The Aldershot bench got him cautioned with their reaction. Did he leave the field of play? No, so what was wrong?

"If anyone should be in trouble it is me because I was outside the technical area shaking his hand.

"The second one was a clumsy challenge but the right-back knew what he was doing. He saw him coming, played the ball and then went down."

The Shots failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage as Reds dropped deep and defended for their lives.

In fact, the home side looked more like scoring before Pittman's early bath, particularly in the first half.

Anthony Charles had two free headers, one which flew over and another which Ronnie Bull cleared off the line, and John Grant also nodded wide from close range.

Evans added: "We had a bit of luck but we haven't had too much luck in the last few games so we deserved it.

"The lads gave us absolutely everything and I don't think anyone can say we didn't deserve to win the game.

"We showed tremendous spirit and it shows you what kind of dressing room we have here."

Source: http://www.theargus.co.uk