Crawley proved they can mix it with the big boys thanks to a clever piece of quick thinking.

Reds held title favourites Hereford to a draw at the Broadfield Stadium, their first ever home game in non-league's top flight.

Hereford took the lead just before half-time through Adam Stansfield but midfielder Charlie Mapes hit back four minutes from time.

The former Wycombe professional, making his home debut, scored direct from a free-kick before the visitors had finished lining up their wall.

Manager Francis Vines said: "We knew we would get one chance and it was just a matter of taking it when it came.

"Charlie is a superb player and can do the unexpected. He caught everyone by surprise, even me, because I didn't actually see it go in.

"I can't say we deserved it because they played us off the pitch for most of the game.

"But football is not always about who plays best and we took advantage of them being asleep."

Confidence-wise, the point will act as significantly as a win for Reds, who were given no chance before the game.

Hereford are determined to win the title this season after finishing just a point behind champions Chester in the last campaign.

They went on to lose in the play-off semi-final on penalties to Aldershot, the side Crawley face on Saturday.

The Bulls have been willing to spend to achieve their aims. Goalkeeper Jonathan Gould, who made more than 100 appearances for Celtic, has joined on loan from Preston and former Derby, Bradford and Portsmouth striker Lee Mills has signed from now defunct Telford.

Mills marked his debut by coming off the bench to score in a 3-1 win against Farnborough on the first day of the season but once again had to settle for a place on the bench last night.

Crawley have been busy themselves, signing nine new players, and the latest, defender Matthew Rees, put pen to paper just hours before kick-off and was named among the substitutes.

The Wales under-21 international was released by Millwall at the end of last season without making a senior appearance and had spells on loan at Swansea, Aldershot and Dagenham.

Vines was forced into two changes from the side that beat Leigh RMI 2-1 on the opening day.

Right winger Mo Harkin was ruled out with an ankle injury picked up in training and was replaced by Robert Traynor.

Striker Danny Davidson failed a fitness test on a calf injury so Dan Marney started up front with Saturday's two-goal hero Charlie MacDonald.

Vines decided to switch from 4-4-2 to a wing back system with Neil Jenkins, normally a fullback, moving into midfield and Mapes playing in the hole behind the two strikers. It was a brave move and one which Hereford exploited in the first half as they dominated from the kick-off.

They created two clear chances from wide areas in the opening stages. Simon Travis found David Brown unmarked 20 yards from goal with a right wing cross, but the former Manchester United trainee scuffed his shot wide.

Left winger Mark Robinson picked out Stansfield who headed straight at Andy Little from the edge of the six-yard box.

Having survived the early pressure, Reds enjoyed a brief spell of possession and almost took the lead on 18 minutes through Ian Simpemba's header.

The visitors were soon back in control, however, and made the breakthrough three minutes before the interval.

The lively Travis was released down the right wing and crossed for Stansfield to glance a powerful header into the far corner.

Reds wasted a great chance to get back on level terms on the hour mark. A cross from Mapes fell kindly to Traynor after MacDonald had made a mess of an attempted overhead kick but the former Brentford player sliced horribly wide.

Vines went for broke, bringing on striker Allan Tait and playing three up front, and it almost paid off on 71 minutes.

MacDonald broke the offside trap to latch on to a through ball by Mapes but the pace of the pass eluded the ex-Charlton forward and it ran harmlessly to Gould.

Hereford showed their strength in depth on 69 minutes, bringing on Mills and midfielder Graham Hyde who was playing in the Premiership for Sheffield Wednesday five years ago.

However, Crawley who the final stages and they were rewarded with Mapes' superb piece of opportunism.

Crawley: Little; Judge, Hemsley (Hankin 68), Simpemba, Traynor, Kember, Mapes, Deane (Tait 62), Marney (Palmer 88), MacDonald, Jenkins. Subs not used: Smith, Rees.

Hereford: Gould; Travis, Tretton, James, Williams, Pitman, Stansfield (Mills 69), Brown (Purdie 82), Stanley (Hyde 69), Mkandawire, Robinson. Subs not used: Smith, Scott.

Attendance: 2,570