Barker builds up Clarke

Crawley boss Richie Barker stressed the importance of Billy Clarke after the forward's brace in the 3-2 home win over Gillingham.

All the goals came in the second half while both sides finished with 10 men with Crawley's Gary Alexander and Gillingham's Charlie Lee being dismissed. Danny Kedwell put the Gills ahead from the penalty spot before Alexander received a straight red card for kicking Leon Legge, and then Lee was adjudged to have fouled Nicky Adams and shown a second yellow card. Kyle McFadzean equalised for Crawley and Clarke put them ahead from close range only for Legge to toe poke the visitors level once again. It was Clarke, though, who had the final say by bursting through to hit the winner with an unstoppable shot into the top corner nine minutes from time. Clarke already boasts four goals this term and Barker says he is vital to the team after having the "season of his career" last term. Barker said: "Billy has the ability to score different kinds of goals; everything we did went through him. "This team suits him. He can score and create and is an excellent finisher. He had one goal in 15 before I arrived and now he's averaging one in every two games - he is coming on in leaps and bounds. "Billy will fit well into certain teams. He's enjoying the best goalscoring record of his career and the more successful he is, the more interest he may arouse." Barker was delighted his men followed up their 2-0 victory at Peterborough with another win, adding: "Some of our football was excellent at times. "The results will come if we continue to have the right philosophy. This is my third year in League One and this is a lot tougher than last season. "If we finish outside the bottom four it will be a hell of an achievement. We want to get to 50 points as quickly as possible."