Credit from Crawley clash

Our Development Squad produced a superb performance to draw 1-1 at League Two side Crawley Town in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night, only to suffer heartache in the subsequent penalty shootout.

With four Under-18s players in our starting XI, we matched up impressively to the hosts, who made eight changes from their 2-1 loss at Oldham at the weekend, playing tidily between the lines while passing the ball with confidence. The physical side of the game wasn't a problem either as we showed a real desire to get on the ball and play forward.

In what was the start of our second campaign in the competition, where invited Under-21 sides get a chance to test themselves against senior opponents, Shayon Harrison gave us the lead five minutes into the second half, but Crawley levelled soon afterwards through Bondz N'Gala before going on to win 5-3 in the shootout for an extra point in Southern Group A. Paris Maghoma was the unlucky player to see his kick saved with Crawley substitute David Sesay following up with the winner, but the young midfielder could still be proud after a brilliant individual display throughout the 90 minutes.

We only tested Crawley goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin once during the first period, the stopper sprawling down to his left to tip Harrison's left-footer around the post shortly after the half-hour mark. Harrison, as the only player in our side with Football League experience following loan spells at Yeovil and Southend, was an important presence up front, holding the ball up and willingly dropping deep at times to help our young midfield operation.

Crawley found the first opening moments earlier when Mark Randall burst through in the box, only to be denied by a great tackle from George Marsh at right back, while N'Gala sent a header spinning wide, Tarryn Allarakhia forced Brandon Austin into a low save and Joe McNerney curled just off target as the home side started to fashion more shooting opportunities.

Crawley forced us to defend during a purposeful start to the second half but when they gifted Harrison possession in their box, left side, the striker drilled beyond Mersin and in off the far post to give us the upper hand.

Unfortunately, that only lasted nine minutes as skipper Lewis Young curled a free-kick into the box and N'Gala powered a first-time shot into the top corner. Crawley might have turned it around moments later after Austin was sold short on a back-pass but after the keeper saved Dominic Poleon's strike, Luis Binks got back to block from Young on the follow-up.

As everyone caught their breath, Jaden Brown got in down the left side of the box but Mersin smothered at the near post – a great chance for us.

Austin and Brown made important late interventions as the game became scrappy but the full-time whistle saw each side take a point, with Crawley bagging an extra one after their shootout win.

Key moment

The chance to win the game came just over 15 minutes from time. First it was Crawley's turn as Poleon pounced on a short back-pass but with neither he or team-mate Young able to make it count, we surged forward and left-back Brown found himself with a great chance at the other end. Unfortunately, keeper Mersin kept his shot out at his near post and the winners were ultimately decided by the shootout.

Neverthess, coach Wayne Burnett was a happy man on his birthday: “There are players who have come out with a lot of credit tonight, I'm really pleased with the performance and proud of every single one of them," he said.

“Collectively we were very good. As a group we were young, inexperienced and a little naive but still hard-working, we showed our identity and played with real courage and flair.

“We had a chance to win it with Jaden, then it goes to penalties and it becomes a bit of a lottery but regardless, I'm really proud of the way we performed. We defended our box well, we had two young defenders who play in the youth team and only left school last year but for them to perform with maturity, I'm really pleased about that.”

Match data

Goals: Crawley - N'Gala 59; Spurs - Harrison 50.

Yellow card: Crawley - Randall 85.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Stadium: Broadfield Stadium.

Attendance: 1,403.

Weather: Light cloud, gentle breeze, 16 degrees.