Crawley Town 2 Leyton Orient 1
Crawley made just one change to Tuesday night’s winning team with Swansea City loanee Edwards making his first start while Jamie Proctor was rested.
Edwards had impressed on his debut coming off the bench to score Reds’ second goal against Tranmere in midweek.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnd he wasted no time in adding his second goal to his brief Crawley career as he gave Reds the lead in the 26th minute.
Edwards putaway a ball squared to him by Dannie Bulman after Matt Tubbs had begun the move.
Mike Jones had the first half chance on goal having cut inside from the left before shooting straight at keeper Jamie Jones.
At the other end Elliot Omozusi cut inside from the left and lifted an effort over the bar.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdUnfortunately Crawley did not hold the lead for long as Orient equalised six minutes before half-time from a set-piece.
Lloyd James’ cornerkick was nodded down by Mathieu Baudry before being poked in unmarked by Dagnall.
Crawley stepped up the pressure after the break with Edwards in the thick of all the Reds’ attacks.
He showed great pace along the left, before cutting inside and launching a shot from the edge of the area which flew menacingly over the bar.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEdwards then showed plenty of confidence to make a turn and shot on target which Jamie Jones tipped over the bar.
The Welsh winger was at it again with a header which was cleared off the line by Moses Odubajo.
Crawley regained the lead in fine style in the 69th minute when Andy Drury headed home Mike Jones’ cross for his fifth goal of the season.
The Reds did not rest on their laurels and pushed on for a third goal as Josh Simpson had a go from 25 yards but fired powerfully straight at the keeper.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEdwards then set up Simpson for another chance which was against kept out by stopper Jamie Jones.
Orient tried hard to grab an equaliser as Dean Cox blasted well over the bar from outside the box.
Finally Kyle McFadzean cleared a final shot off the line from David Mooney spectacularly with his chest as Crawley held out for victory.
REDS: P Jones, Sadler, Connolly, McFadzean, Drury, Simpson (Torres 84), Walsh, Bulman, Tubbs (Proctor 60), Jones, Edwards.
Unused subs: Essam, Fallon, Monakana, Maddison, Dicker
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdORIENT: J Jones, Omozusi, Vincelot (Ness 78), Cuthbert, Baudry, Cox, James (Lundstram 65), Mooney, Odubajo, Clarke, Dagnall (Batt 65).
Unused subs: Sawyer, Larkins, Batt, Lasimant, R Simpson, Ness
REFEREE: Mick Russell
ATTENDANCE: 4,387 (1,171 away)
MAN OF THE MATCH: Gwion Edwards