Crawley Town and Colchester Battle to 1-1 Draw in Boxing Day Thriller

Boxing Day Stalemate at Broadfield Stadium

Crawley Town and Colchester United played out a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day, with Kyreece Lisbie’s equaliser cancelling out Reece Brown’s opener at a chilly Broadfield Stadium. The match, which took place on 26 December 2025, proved to be a crucial encounter for both League Two sides with contrasting fortunes this season.

Match Details and Key Moments

The home side, who went into the game without a win in seven matches, started brightly. Crawley took the lead in the 13th minute when Brown’s low strike sailed through a crowd of bodies, under goalkeeper Matt Macey. However, Colchester responded quickly with Lisbie equalising in the 20th minute.

The match was not without controversy. Colchester United boss Danny Cowley felt the draw became a ‘lottery’ due to referee Alan Young’s performance. The drama continued late in the game when striker Ryan Loft missed an open goal, further frustrating Crawley boss Scott Lindsey.

Implications for Both Sides

Crawley, unbeaten at home in the league since the end of September, are now two points clear of the bottom two, whilst tenth-placed Colchester have lost only one of their last six away league games. The result maintains Crawley’s unbeaten home run but does little to ease their struggles in finding the back of the net consistently.

Looking Ahead

For Crawley Town, the point keeps them just above the relegation zone but highlights their ongoing challenge with converting chances into goals. Crawley are back in action on Monday night when they host Bromley. Both managers will reflect on what might have been, with missed opportunities and contentious refereeing decisions defining this Boxing Day encounter in League Two.