Caretaker-manager Francis Vines did his job prospects no harm at all as Crawley secured a comfortable 4-0 premier division win over relegation-haunted Halesowen.

Vines made it five wins from eight as caretaker, although 10-man Halesowen rarely offered much of a challenge in front of Reds' lowest league crowd of the season.

Assistant manager Vic Bettinelli said: "Goals certainly change games and that's what I felt happened with the second goal for us.

"Once we went 2-0 up we started to knock the ball around as we know we can. It's great to get a win after two defeats in a row and the injuries we had made it very difficult."

It was the visitors who created the early openings, but Crawley led on 14 minutes when Peter Fear's header from a Ben Judge corner appeared to go in tamely off defender Richard Colwell.

Keeper Tim Clarke had to pull off a great save to prevent Warren Bagnall from adding a second, but Halesowen should have been level on 49 minutes, but Leroy May headed straight at Andy Little.

Bagnall and McDonnell both fired wide before Reds added their second on 61 minutes. Ernie Cooksey's cross was completely missed by McDonnell, but substitute Mo Harkin slammed in his first league goal for the club.

Striker Bagnall twice had chances to add to the lead before making way for Danny Hockton and the third goal arrived in the 72nd minute when McDonnell lobbed keeper Clarke straight from Little's long goal kick.

The Yeltz had Asa Charlton sent off for a second booking three minutes later after he tangled with Harkin.

Two minutes into stoppage time Les Hines allowed the ball to run in his own penalty box and Stewart Holmes accepted the gift, slotting under Clarke to make it 4-0.

Crawley lie eigth in the premier division 14 points adrift of third placed Worcester but with four games in hand.