Haringey Borough beaten in Challenge Trophy by Crawley Green (From Haringey Independent)

Holders Haringey Borough lose in Challenge Trophy to Crawley Green

3:28pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in Sport

Haringey Borough relinquished their hold on the Challenge Trophy after a 3-2 defeat after extra time at Crawley Green last night.

Crawley Green were within a whisker of going out as they needed a stoppage time equaliser to force extra time.

In an even first half Boro spurned a golden opportunity to take the lead when home keeper Dean Bull guessed correctly and saved Darrell Cox’s penalty.

Green thought they had taken the lead seconds before the interval when the ball was blasted home from close range but a raised flag reprieved Boro as the ball had gone out of play in the build up.

The visitors took the lead through a well-worked goal and a powerful finish from Chris Benjamin ten minutes into the second half. This only served to spur the home side to even greater efforts and the Boro defence was kept at full stretch to repel their approaches until the late equaliser.

Haringey went back ahead midway through the first period of extra time when Bull spilled a ball close to the foot of a post and it trickled into the net off Cox.

As Boro tired Green piled on the pressure and were rewarded early in the second period of extra time immediately after Borough’s defensive composure had been disrupted by a head injury sustained by Rakim Richards.

A huge lofted diagonal cross from the left to the far post left Boro keeper Austin Byfield totally isolated to do battle with two home forwards and he lost out leaving the loose ball to be driven home from close range.

Byfield kept out further efforts with some close-range blocks but eventually Haringey were undone by yet another corner swept into the net from close range when Boro’s third penalty shoot-out of the year seemed on the cards.

Haringey travel to Leverstock Green in the South Midlands Premier Division this weekend.