A Danny Watson hat trick set Crawley on the road to a deserved win in another goal fest behind closed doors at The Brache. Whatever the teams worked on in "lockdown" it was certainly not defending as six goals were scored in the first half.

Crawley opened with a long range effort from Mark Bunker which went just over followed by a Watson header from a Dan Blackman cross that was saved by Lee Axworthy in the Colney goal.

The visitors took the lead after 11 minutes with an outstanding strike by Toby Cleaver. From fully 25 yards Cleaver smashed the ball which flew past George Rose to make it 0-1.

Five minutes later the Maroons were level when Colney gave the ball away.on the edge of their box. Skipper Phil Draycott quickly played in Watson who finished well to make 1-1.

Parity lasted exactly 3 minutes when Crawley allowed a "socially distanced" Andre Odetola the freedom to set up Cleaver who scored from close range to double his tally for the game and make it 1-2.

Cleaver had another shot go wide before Crawley equalised after 27 minutes. Aarron Browne fired in a peach of a corner from the left which was headed home by Chris Crook to make it 2-2. Straight from the kick off the visitors came close to re-taking the lead as Rose did well to keep out a header from Finbar King following a cross from the right.

Crawley replied with a chance for Draycott but he was pushed wide by Axworthy however after 36 minutes the Maroons took the lead. Dan Blackman picked up the ball on the left and his shot was deflected past Axworthy to make it 3-2.

Just before the break the Maroons doubled their lead when Watson was played in on the right and he calmly shot past Axworthy to make it 4-2 at half time.

Colney started brightly after the break with an effort from Odetola which went wide and a shot from Karnel Harvey which was saved by Rose. Crawley replied with a chance for Draycott who was felled in the box and the Referee pointed straight to the spot. Up stepped Watson who fired home to complete his hat trick and put Crawley 5-2 up after 52 minutes.

Bunker then tried a snap shot from distance which caught out Axworthy but the ball cannoned off the post. Axworthy then made a fine save to keep out a shot from Draycott.

Back came Colney and Rose made a great save to deny Odetola and shortly after Elliott Beever shot wide. In the 74th minute Colney reduced the arrears with the goal of the game. Callum Ismail glided past 4 Crawley players and planted a cracking shot into the top right hand corner of the goal to make it 5-3.

It was game on as Colney surged forward. Ismail had another shot well saved by Rose and King put a free header over the bar. The Maroons rallied and battled with resolve to run down the clock and finish worthy 5-3 winners. Next Saturday Crawley entertains Arlesey Town.

Crawley Green Reserves lost 2-0 at Queens Park Crescents. Next Saturday the Reserves visit Elstow Abbey.

Crawley Green U23 bowed out of the Beds Junior Cup when they lost 5-4 on penalties after a 4-4 draw with goals from Oliver Brennan, James Younger and a brace from Ethan McEvoy. Next Saturday they entertain CS Rovers.