ANGRY Crawley fans demanded their money back last night after a Sussex Senior Cup tie was abandoned.

The Billingshurst official called a halt to the third round clash in the 65th minute with the score 0-0, because of a frozen pitch.

Supporters gathered inside the main entrance at the Broadfield Stadium to protest to club officials.

They left when it was announced admission prices would be halved for the replay.

Albion had conceded home advantage for the tie and, with gate receipts shared by the clubs, secretary Derek Allan quickly agreed to the price reduction.

Postles had little option. Play had to be held up in the first half for groundstaff to spread soil in the Crawley goalmouth.

He inspected the goalmouth again at half time but, with the temperature plummeting and players finding it increasingly difficult to keep their feet, conditions became dangerous.

Postles' decision received a frosty reception from the 400 crowd. The only surprise though was that he did not abandon the game at the break.

Crawley, adapting better to the treacherous surface, had much the better of the play which was possible.

Nigel Brake should have put the skids under Albion in the 11th minute, but he failed to connect cleanly with a cross from Jay Lovett when well placed inside the area.

Curtis Johnson headed tamely at Mark Ormerod following Lovett's long throw and Brake headed narrowly wide from a Gus Hurdle cross early in the second half.

Ormerod produced a fine one-handed stop to keep out Dean Wordsworth's downward header from another Lovett centre.

Trialist Chris Collins, formerly with Southampton, was the only Albion player without first team experience. But they barely bothered a Crawley defence which had leaked 14 goals in the last three games.

It took the Seagulls 58 minutes to muster a shot, Paul Armstrong firing narrowly over from 25 yards after neat approach work by Danny Davis.

Shaun Wilkinson went off at half time with a calf injury and David Cameron was substituted by coach Ian Culverhouse minutes into the restart.

Crawley: Little; Doherty, Payne, Taylor, Johnson, Hurdle, Lovett, Sharman, Vines, Wordsworth, Brake. Subs: Ullathorne (for Vines 59), S. Collins, Best.

Albion Reserves: Ormerod; Palmer, Campbell, C, Collins, McPherson, Andrews, Armstrong, D. Davis, Ramsay, Cameron, Wilkinson. Subs: Marney (for Wilkinson 45), McPhee (for Cameron 52).

l Worthing are through to the second round of the Sussex Floodlight Cup after a 3-0 win over County League Haywards Heath at Hanbury Park last night, with goals by Neil Francis, Paul Kennett and Simon Funnell. They will now play Portfield.

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