Crawley squandered a host of chances as they edged into the third round of the FA Trophy with a narrow 1-0 victory over fellow Dr Martens League premier division side Cambridge City.

Reds manager Billy Smith's was furious after his side wasted a mass of second-half openings at Milton Road.

He said: "We were missing virtually open goals. It was very sloppy and I have told the players that. Our keeper Andy Little had a really good game and kept us ahead when really we should have won comfortably.

"At times some of the players looked very tired and I think this week's FA Cup second round game against Dagenham and Redbridge was on their minds."

Reds showed no visible signs of a cup hangover after Tuesday night's dramatic 3-2 win over Tiverton and should have won by a canter against a City side struggling at the foot of the division.

However City were always in with a chance as Reds contrived to miss opportunities.

Boss Smith made just one change to the side, recalling Barry Moore to replace the injured Ellis Hooper.

Moore played on the right of midfield, with a flat back four consisting of Marc Pullan and Stewart Holmes as centre-backs, Ben Judge on the right and Ernie Cooksey on the left side.

Smith's preparations for the game were not helped by the fact that the team coach arrived at the ground at 2.30pm, leaving his side little time to warm up before kick-off.

Reds began slowly and City had the first effort on goal, skipper Darren Collins back-heeling for Adrian Hayes to fire a low drive which Little did well to hold.

Crawley scored the only goal of the game on 17 minutes in slightly strange circumstances as Mo Harkin's low cross from the left was tapped easily past keeper Martin Davies by Nic McDonnell, who appeared to be as surprised as anyone as the ball trickled over the line.

Dave Stevens almost added a second a minute later but his low shot was pushed behind by Davies.

Collins then had two chances to level for City before the break but fired well over on both occasions, while Stevens and Moore went closest to extending Crawley's lead.

After the interval, Reds were forced to soak up a great deal of Cambridge pressure, although the home side rarely looked like equalising.

Rob Nightingale went nearest to levelling with a shot deflected over the bar while Little had to make a great save to deny Hayes.

Reds were wasteful in the last ten minutes as Neil Le Bihan fired straight at keeper Davies, while Harkin broke through, only to see Davies save well.

Harkin cut in from the left with five minutes left but made the save easy for Davies once more while he also missed a good chance at the far post two minutes later.

Cambridge nearly forced a replay in the dying seconds when Tim Wooding's free-kick was spilt by keeper Little but the error went unpunished.

City: Davies, Wooding, Wardley, Holden, Vowden, Willis, Nightingale, Hayes, Collins, Bloomfield, Clements. Subs: Wignall, Calton, Skelly, French, Wilkin.

Crawley: Little, Judge, Cooksey, Moore, Pullan, Fear, Holmes, Harkin, McDonnell, Stevens, Le Bihan. Subs: Bagnall, Hockton, Hemsley, Payne, Hooper.

Referee: Martin George (Norfolk)