Kabongo Tshimanga rescues point as Crawley extend unbeaten run

Kabongo Tshimanga scored a second-half equaliser as Crawley rescued a point from a 1-1 League Two home draw against Accrington.

Tshimanga, whose late goal gave the Red Devils a plucky point in a 2-2 stalemate at Gillingham a week earlier, repeated the feat as his team extended their unbeaten league run to four games.

The recalled Harry McKirdy had a chance to give Crawley the lead in the 12th minute when put through by Josh Flint but his shot was pushed round the post by goalkeeper Ollie Wright.

Everton loanee Isaac Heath struck first to put Accrington ahead after 28 minutes by diverting a goal-bound shot from Isaac Sinclair after Donald Love had released Shaun Whalley.

The hosts hit back in the 66th minute when substitute Tshimanga’s first touch – just a few seconds after coming on – was too good for Wright from close range after Geraldo Bajrami drove into the box.

Crawley had struggled despite Louis Flower testing Wright just before the break with a shot that the goalkeeper kept out with an outstretched leg, but boss Scott Lindsey’s substitutions changed the script in the second half.

Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages and the draw took Stanley’s unbeaten run in all competitions to six games – their best sequence of the season.