CONFERENCE: Crawley Town weekly news bulletin

Crawley keep up play-off push
Crawley Town remain in contention for a place in the Nationwide Conference play-offs after they earned a point at Scarborough on Saturday. Allan Tait gave the Red Devils a 38th minute lead but the home side equalised just before half-time. Paul Armstrong put Crawley back in front on 58 minutes but Scarborough equalised on 64 minutes to preserve their 16-match unbeaten run at home.

Crawley return to cup action tomorrow night (Wednesday) as they face Brighton & Hove Albion reserves away in the Sussex Senior Cup quarter-finals. The match will be played at Woodside Road, home of Worthing FC. Manager Francis Vines is without Charlie MacDonald, Mo Harkin, Robbie Kember and Danny Davidson, while Sacha Opinel sits out the last game of his four-match suspension.

On Saturday, Halifax Town make their first visit to the Broadfield Stadium, kick-off 3.00pm

Saturday 26 February - Nationwide Conference
Scarborough 2 (Hackworth 44, Pounder 64) Crawley Town 2 (Tait 37, Armstrong 58)

Crawley: Phil Smith, Ben Judge, Ian Simpemba, Sean Hankin, Neil Jenkins, John Robinson (Sub: Danny Marney 69), Robbie Kember, Simon Wormull, Paul Armstrong, Charlie MacDonald (Joe Healy 77), Allan Tait. Subs Not Used: Andy Little, Kevin Hemsley, Ryan Palmer.

Attendance: 1,451

Forthcoming Fixtures
Tuesday 1 March: Away v Brighton & Hove Albion (Sussex Senior Cup QF) Kick-off 7.45pm
Saturday 6 March: Home v Halifax Town (Nationwide Conference) Kick-off 3.00pm
Tuesday 8 March: Away v Canvey Island (GLS Cup Third Round) Kick-off 7.45pm
Saturday 12 March: Away v Barnet (Nationwide Conference) Kick-off 3.00pm

Watkins returns to Fulham
Defender Robert Watkins has returned to Fulham after his one-month loan deal came to an end last week. Watkins played in all eight of Crawley's matches in this time and scored the first goal in the 3-0 home win against Tamworth.

Suspensions
Sacha Opinel will complete his four-match suspension tomorrow night and will be available for Saturday's match with Halifax.

Charlie MacDonald and Paul Armstrong will both miss Saturday's match with Halifax after picking up their fifth bookings of the season on Saturday.

Injury news
Charlie MacDonald is rested for tomorrow night's Senior Cup match against Brighton due to his ongoing groin injury.
Mo Harkin (calf) is also rested tomorrow night but will be fit to face Halifax on Saturday.
Robbie Kember has a hamstring injury and is also rested tomorrow night but will be fit for Saturday.
Danny Davidson (knee) is still another week away from returning to the squad.

Reserve/Youth team news The reserves' next match is at home to Luton Town in the Pontins Holidays Football Combination on Wednesday 9 March, kick-off 7.30pm.
The youth team beat Thurrock Youth 3-0 tonight and now need one only more win to take the Conference Youth League Conference South title.