AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Crawley Town: Watters fires Red Devils into round three
- Published
FA Cup: AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Crawley Town highlights
League Two Crawley reached the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 2012/13 season with a comeback win at League One outfit AFC Wimbledon.
Ethan Chislett's pinpoint cross from the right found Joe Pigott unmarked to head the Dons in front with a bullet header for his seventh goal of the season.
But Jack Powell's defence-splitting pass sent Ashley Nadesan clear to lift the ball over advancing keeper Connal Trueman for the equaliser.
And Max Watters smashed in the winner from point-blank range following a goalmouth scramble after the hosts failed to clear.
Crawley had come through an FA Cup classic to reach round two, winning a chaotic tie 6-5 after extra time at Torquay, and just as in Devon had to fight back after falling behind in an even first half.
The home side had reached the third round or better in all but one of the five previous seasons and responded strongly to Watters' ninth goal of the season.
Glenn Morris did well to palm away Pigott's fine long-range effort and Steve Seddon had an effort blocked as Wimbledon won a string of second-half corners.
Pigott's low shot was off target as the hosts piled on late pressure, but Terell Thomas dragged their last chance wide as Crawley hung on.