Halesowen 2 Crawley 0: Crawley returned frustrated from the Dr Martens League Cup Final first leg after conceding two late goals for the second game in a row.

The same thing had happened on Saturday during a 3-3 draw at Newport and last night Reds looked to be cruising towards a comfortable victory after Warren Bagnall gave them the lead on 60 minutes.

But two strikes in the last four minutes handed Halesowen a 2-1 lead at the end of the first leg.

Crawley manager Francis Vines welcomed back defender Marc Pullan while Nic McDonnell, who had missed six games with a knee injury, started alongside Bagnall.

The two sides approached the game differently, with Crawley treating it as a priority.

Halesowen lie fourth from bottom in the premier division and, with a crucial survival clash looming against Grantham on Saturday, promoted three players from the reserves and another four started who are usually on the bench.

Crawley, with the luxury of the home leg still to come, enjoyed the balance of the first half but neither side was able to create many chances before the break.

McDonnell showed glimpses of what Reds have been missing during his injury absence by getting into good positions to threaten the Yeltz goal.

Ernie Cooksey headed wide from a 35-yard ball launched in from the right by full-back Ben Judge.

Halesowen gradually began to pressurise the visitor's defence and on the half hour the pacey Mark Danks went round the advancing Crawley goalkeeper Andy Little before Judge cleared the danger.

Early in the second half Crawley pressed forward in search of a goal to reward their two coach loads of travelling fans.

A Mo Harkin shot was deflected by a defender into the path of the on-rushing Bagnall who blasted high and wide of the mark.

Ellis Hooper then skied another attempt as Crawley really piled on the pressure.

The attacking movement paid off on the hour as Judge whipped a corner towards the far post and Bagnall volleyed in from close range.

Stewart Holmes was denied by a superb save from Gary Hateley and then Cooksey's header from a Harkin corner thundered against a post.

Halesowen had hardly threatened all night but four minutes from time Richard Leadbeater headed in following a corner by substitute Lee Williams.

Things became worse two minutes later as Judge scored an own goal as he tried to intercept a shot from the right by Leadbeater.

The second leg will take place at Broadfield Stadium on April 29.

Halesowen: Hateley, Colwell, Charlton (sub Hines 34), Smith, Stone, Trainer, Spencer, Gibson (sub Williams 68), Leadbeater, Danks, Master (sub Ashby 84). Subs not used: B. Clarke, T. Clarke Crawley: Little, Judge, Payne, Hooper, Pullan, Holmes, Harkin, Cooksey, McDonnell (sub Hockton 82), Bagnall (sub Taylor 82), Brake. Subs not used: Le Bihan, Hemsley, Fear.

Referee: R Vaughan (Bristol).