Crawley Town’s five-match unbeaten run came to an end in tame fashion as they lost 2-0 at home to Exeter City.

The Reds were extremely poor in the first half when they fell 1-0 behind.

They improved after the break before a second Exeter goal with 16 minutes remaining killed the contest.

Reds went into the game with top scorer Matt Harrold missing due to a knee injury.

Gwion Edwards and Lyle Della-Verde dropped to the bench as Mark Yates made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 at York City on Saturday.

The visitors were forced into a late change as captain Jordan Moore-Taylor was replaced just before kick-off by Jamie McAllister.

Crawley looked all at sea for most of the first half and it was just a surprise they only went in 1-0 down at the break as Exeter seemed to carve open their hosts at will.

Shamir Fenelon, one of the players to come into the team, had a chance on 13 minutes which Bobby Olejnik saved but otherwise it was all Exeter.

Seconds after Fenelon’s chance, Callum Preston made a super save low down from Ollie Watkins who connected first time with former Reds loanee Jake Taylor’s cross.

Watkins then shot wide before playing a role in the opener on 28 minutes, slipping a pass to an unmarked Taylor to sweep the ball home from eight yards.

Lee Holmes wasted a great chance to double the advantage, firing high and wide from a Taylor cross on 31 minutes, and Jayden Stockley headed over a Ryan Harley cross just before the interval.

Edwards came on for Gavin Tomlin at half-time and immediately Crawley threatened, Liam McAlinden drawing a good save from Olejnik after linking with Fenelon.

Fenelon, who was pushed up front alongside McAlinden for the second half, was next to test Olejnik on 67 minutes with a good strike which the keeper beat away.

The second half was certainly a lot better from Crawley and Olejnik twice more came to Exeter’s rescue. First, he pushed away a shot from Edwards from 22 yards and then he tipped over Sonny Bradley’s header from the resulting corner.

From the next corner, McAlinden’s effort was cleared off the line by Holmes, stationed at the far post.

But the fightback was ended by a second Exeter goal with 16 minutes remaining, Watkins heading home Taylor’s cross from close range.

Crawley ended the game with ten men, McAlinden being helped off injured with all three substitutes having been used.

Crawley: Preston; Bond, Ashton (sub McNerney 79), Bradley, Dunne; Walton (sub Deacon 70); Young, Tomlin (sub Edwards 46), Sutherland, Fenelon; McAlinden. Subs not used: Bawling, Della-Verde, Rose.

Exeter City: Olejnik; Ribeiro, Brown, McAllister, Woodman; Taylor (sub Wheeler 88), Watkins (sub Grant 88), Harley, Davies, Holmes; Stockley. Subs not used: Morrison, Nicholls, Tillson, Pym.