Boss Steve Evans praised match-winner Danny Forrest after the striker’s second-half penalty kept Crawley on course for a top-six finish in the Blue Square premier.

Forrest scored his fifth goal of the season, having assumed penalty-taking responsibilities when Simon Rusk’s effort was comfortably saved by Clark Masters in the 57th minute.

Referee John Hopkins ordered a re-take, having given the spot-kick when Matt Ruby tripped Mikey Malcolm, and Forrest made no mistake.

Forrest was Reds’ best attacker and his display justified Evans’ decision to keep top scorer Charlie Ademeno, who has been suffering from a virus, on the bench for the second successive game until the closing stages.

It was not a decision which went down well with a section of the home crowd who had called for Ademeno’s introduction much earlier.

Evans said: “There were some shouts for Charlie to come on earlier but when you have a virus like Charlie has had you are not going to take any chances.

“If I didn’t think we needed a second goal Charlie would have stayed sat beside me with his big coat on.

“Anyone who wants to fault Danny should come and explain why to me. He covers every blade of grass, gives you everything he’s got and was brave with the penalty. He wanted it after Rusky’s miss and stuck it in.”

Ademeno came on for the last ten minutes and should have wrapped the game up when Malcolm’s pass put him clear but from eight yards out he not only cleared the crossbar but the stand behind the goal as well.

But with Nick Jordan virtually a spectator at the other end Reds held on comfortably and Evans felt they deserved to win on the basis of an improved second-half display.

He said: “We stepped it up and did enough to win the game. Nick Jordan has not had a save to make so four points from six over Easter is a job well done for us.”

Their exertions at Rushden on Friday, when Reds secured a 1-1 draw against the play-off chasers, seemed to affect them in the first half when they ran out of ideas after a bright start when Forrest had a goal disallowed and Masters saved Barry Cogan’s angled drive.

Hayes had no attacking ambitions whatsoever which was hardly surprising given that they had shipped eight goals in their previous away game at Luton. But they worked diligently to close down the space and smothered Crawley’s creativity.

Virus or not, Ademeno would probably have been introduced earlier had the deadlock not been broken when it was and Thomas Pinault nearly capped off a five-man move when his 25-yard drive missed the target by inches.

Jordan was finally forced into action late on to deal with a free-kick from Andres Stolcers but it was too little, too late for the powder-puff visitors.

Crawley: Jordan, Rusk, Rents, Quinn, Langston, Cogan, Pinault, Smith (sub Ademeno 82), Hutchinson, Malcolm, Forrest. Subs not used: Rayner, Broadhurst, Napper, Carter.

Booked: Hutchinson (ungentlemanly conduct).

Hayes and Yeading: Masters, Allen-Page, Green, Ruby (sub Wishart 73), Marwa (sub Stolcers 85), Mulley, Canham, Binns, James (sub Webb 33), Ide, Harris. Subs not used: Overland, Little.

Booked: Ruby (foul).

Referee: John Hopkins (Essex).

Attendance: 860 (45 Hayes).