CHAPTER 68: FIRE IN THE FIGHT

Chapter 68: Fire in the Fight

Saturday, April 3

Crawley Town’s 1-0 win against West Ham United had set their FA Cup dream ablaze, Thiago’s 75th-minute strike etching their name into legend. Third in League Two with 69 points, five points behind Bournemouth, promotion was a fire in their veins. The FA Cup semifinal against Aston Villa at Wembley on April 18 loomed, but first, Grimsby Town awaited at Broadfield on April 3, the first of 10 league matches to secure top-three.

Saturday’s Grimsby Battle

Broadfield Stadium hummed under April’s pale sun, 3,500 fans packing the stands, their red scarves a sea, chants of "Red Devils!" rolling like thunder. Grimsby Town, mid-table but physical, arrived to spoil Crawley’s momentum. Niels rested Nate, Dev Patel starting on the left, his flair a spark. The squad, buzzing with a new superstition, touched Max’s scuffed boots by his locker, Liam’s quip, "Max-y’s boots, our luck!" sparking laughs. Max, captain’s fire blazing, led them out, his nod to Thiago, "Hit ’em fast, mate," a vow.

Kickoff:

The whistle blew at 3:00 p.m., Grimsby’s press relentless, their towering striker muscling Liam McCulloch. In the 10th minute, Jamal Osei’s tackle, Instinct Lens [Steel] glowing, broke a Grimsby move, his pass to Luka Radev sparking a counter. Luka, Instinct Lens [Vision] flaring, threaded to Thiago, whose shot sailed wide, fans chanting, "Come on, Thi-a-go!" A woman in a red cap pounded the barrier, "Keep going, Thiago!" Grimsby’s physicality bruised, Tom Whitehall grimacing after a 20th-minute clash, but Crawley’s flanks clicked, Dev’s 25th-minute cross headed over by Max, fans roaring, "Max-y!"

In the 40th minute, Crawley struck. Baxter, Instinct Lens [Creative spark] glowing, curled a corner, Max leaping, his header thundering past Grimsby’s keeper, 1-0.

Broadfield erupted, "Max-y!" scarves twirling, a boy shouting, "Captain!" Max pointed to the stands, his fire a beacon. Grimsby hit back, their striker’s 43rd-minute shot tipped over by Adam Fletcher, fans chanting, "Fletch-er!" Halftime loomed, but a fan, a local musician, took the pitch with a guitar, his song "Crawley’s Red, Wembley-Bound!" igniting the crowd, a girl’s sign, "FA Cup Fire!" glowing. Niels clapped, "Hold tight, lads!" his pulse racing, Grimsby’s grit a storm.

Half-time: Crawley Town 1-0 Grimsby Town

The second half was brutal, Grimsby leveling in the 55th minute, a scrappy header from a corner, 1-1.

Broadfield groaned, "Come on, Reds!" Niels signaled high press, Thiago and Dev stretching the flanks. In the 60th minute, he subbed Ilyas Kadir for Tom, adding steel, Ilyas’ tackle sparking chants, "Il-yas!" Grimsby’s defense creaked, Luka’s 70th-minute pass, Instinct Lens [Vision] flaring, finding Dev, whose shot was blocked. Then, in the 80th minute, Thiago ignited. Baxter’s through-ball, Instinct Lens [Creative spark] glowing, split Grimsby’s line, Thiago, Instinct Lens [Silky technique] blazing, outpacing their defender, his low shot arrowing past the keeper, 2-1.

Grimsby Town 1-2 Crawley Town

Broadfield detonated, "Thi-a-go!" a man bellowing, "Brazilian fire!" Thiago slid to the fans, pointing to them, his grin a spark. Niels pumped a fist, "Hold it, lads!" Grimsby pushed, Fletcher’s 85th-minute save, clawing a shot off the line, sealing the win. In the 88th minute, Niels subbed Korey Henry for Dev, fresh legs locking the lead. Stoppage time’s three minutes passed, the whistle blowing, Broadfield roaring, "Crawley!" A girl’s sign, "Wembley Awaits!" bold in the sun.

Fulltime: Crawley Town 2-1 Grimsby Town

Post-Match Glow

The squad collapsed, sweat-soaked, Max embracing Thiago, "You rascal!" Thiago’s laugh flashed, "For Max-y’s boots, captain!" Niels clapped, voice booming, "You fought, lads! Max, that header was class. Thiago, pure magic. Fletcher, world-class saves. Liam, Jamal, you caged their striker. Two points off second, nine games left. Bournemouth’s next." Max’s nod was fierce, "For the town, boss." Liam’s eyes burned, "Wembley’s calling, boss." Niels nodded, "Villa’s Premier League, lads, but we’re giant-killers." Nate, on the bench, grinned, his knee rested, but Niels’ glance lingered, the joint a fragile hope.

Fans lingered, 3,500 strong, singing, "Sweet Crawley Town!" A man shouted, "You’re our pride!" his scarf raised. A supporter, an elderly woman, gifted Max a scrapbook, its pages bursting with clippings: Lincoln’s 1-0, West Ham’s 0-1, Thiago’s goal in newsprint. Max’s voice caught, "This is Crawley, nan," tucking it under his arm.

Sunday’s Recovery

Sunday’s session was light, Broadfield’s pitch soft, legs easing after Grimsby’s bruises. The squad stretched, Max’s boots by his side, players tapping them, their superstition a grin. Thiago’s laugh rang, "Max-y’s boots, our Wembley ticket!" Luka mentored Ollie, the 14-year-old academy lad, his pass crisp, "See the run, Ollie, hit it early." Ollie’s shot grazed the bar, players cheering, "Future Red!" Niels watched, his chest warm, Ollie’s fire a spark for Crawley’s future.

Niels gathered them, "Bournemouth Wednesday, lads, second-placed, a fight. Their midfield’s sharp, we lock it with Jamal, Luka. Thiago, Dev, stretch ’em. Villa’s prep starts tomorrow, their wingers are lightning." 80 Fans, clapped from the stands, a boy’s shout, "Smash Villa!" bright. A local radio van parked nearby, Crawley FM inviting Niels for a call-in show. He agreed, his voice steady later, "Grimsby’s done, fans, Bournemouth’s next, then Villa. We fight for you." A caller, a girl, shared, "My dad’s framing Thiago’s goal pic!" stirring Niels’ heart, the town’s faith a fire.

Monday’s Villa Prep

Monday’s training was sharp, Niels’ tactics board detailing Villa’s 4-4-2. "Young cuts inside, Downing’s crosses are low," he said, "Reece, Callum, mark tight. Liam, Jamal, no space for Agbonlahor." A video analysis session fizzled when the projector flashed a Thiago dance clip, Dev’s prank sparking laughs, "Wrong tape, boss!" Niels grinned, "Nice one, Dev, but focus!" The real footage rolled, Young’s pace a blur, Downing’s crosses deadly. Baxter’s corners, Instinct Lens [Creative spark] glowing, found Max, his headers crisp, his captain’s role a rock.

Thiago’s stepovers, Instinct Lens [Silky technique] flaring, drew Ollie’s awe, the kid whispering, "He’s unreal." Niels subbed Ollie into a drill, his tackle on Luka sparking cheers, "Go, Ollie!" 60 fans, clapped, a woman’s shout, "Wembley Reds!" warm in the breeze. Niels’ voice boomed, "Bournemouth’s flair’s like Villa’s, lads, counter with Luka’s passes, Thiago’s runs. Set-pieces are ours, Max." The squad roared, "Crawley!" their fire steady, Bournemouth’s challenge a storm, Villa’s semifinal a beacon.

Tuesday–Friday’s Bournemouth Focus

Tuesday’s session honed Bournemouth’s threats, their wingers rapid, midfield fluid. "Lock their playmaker," Niels said, "Jamal, Ilyas, no gaps. Thiago, Dev, hit the break." A superstition grew: players touched Max’s boots before leaving the changing room, Max’s grin, "My boots better score, lads!" Wednesday’s travel to Bournemouth was tense, the squad quiet, Max tapping his boots, Liam’s nod a rock. Thursday’s light session post-match eased bruises, Niels’ voice firm, "Bournemouth then, Torquay Sunday, then Villa. No slip-ups, lads."

Friday’s training was Villa-focused, set-pieces clicking, Baxter’s crosses deadly. Niels’ board fell mid-brief, Thiago’s quip, "We can win this, boss!" sparking nods. "Young’s pace, Downing’s crosses," Niels said, "Reece, Callum, you should leave no room for that. Liam, Jamal, cage Agbonlahor. Max, headers up top." Luka’s passes sparked a goal, Ollie clapping, "Class, Luka!" Niels watched, Villa’s flair a riddle, Torquay’s grit a test. Could Crawley’s fire blaze past Villa at Wembley, or would their stars dim it? Could Niels steer Torquay, and seven league games, with Nate’s knee fragile, or would promotion slip? Wembley’s arch loomed, Crawley’s heart a flame unyielding.

[League: Matches: 37, Wins: 22, Draws: 6, Losses: 9, Points: 72, Position: 3rd]