Assistant-manager Paul Raynor praised his injury- ravaged Crawley side after they secured a welcome win with two second-half goals against ten man Salisbury.

The visitors lost defender James Turley in first-half stoppage time when he was shown a straight red for an X-rated challenge on Adam Quinn.

The home side took advantage when Ben Smith scored for the second successive game before Lewis Killeen wrapped up only their second win in the last ten games with a clinical finish three minutes from time.

Raynor said: “We got what we deserved. In the second half we moved the ball around and created chances and weren’t intimidated by some of the challenges from Salisbury were appalling. Adam Quinn is very fortunate that he is not nursing a serious injury.”

Already without four players because of injury and suspension, Reds suffered another setback 20 minutes in when Chris Giles, who had begun the game as an emergency striker, pulled up with a recurrence of the hamstring injury which had sidelined him earlier in the season.

Charles Ademeno came on even though he was not fully fit but Reds struggled to create clear-cut chances despite dominating possession in the first half.

The game exploded into life in stoppage time when Turley was shown a straight red for an over-the-ball challenge in the centre circle on Quinn. It sparked a furious exchange of words between the respective benches but referee Davies was ideally placed and there were few complaints from the Salisbury players.

It did not take long for the home side to make the most of their numerical advantage when Smith poached his third goal in four games five minutes after the re-start.

Malcolm and Killeen created space down the left and Ademeno should have scored when Malcolm’s pass found him unmarked in the six-yard box. His shot was blocked on the line by Pat Cox but the rebound fell nicely for Smith to side-foot into the net.

It was just the confidence boost Crawley needed and in the next 20 minutes they created enough chances to have put the game to bed with Ademeno the biggest culprit.

On three occasions he found himself with only Bittner to beat but twice the keeper saved at his feet and when he did beat him Danny Webb got back to head his goal bound shot off the line.

Salisbury barely threatened in the second half and the home side made sure of victory with three minutes left. Man of the match Thomas Pinault led another breakaway to find Ademeno inside the penalty area and he intelligently laid the ball into the path of Killeen who cut inside on to his left foot before curling his shot inside the far post.

Quinn picked up his fifth yellow card which means he will miss leaders Oxford’s visit next week while the crowd was Reds’ second- lowest in their Conference history.

Crawley: Rayner, Rusk, Quinn, Broadhurst, Wilson, Killeen, Pinault (sub: Lokando 90), Smith, Hutchinson, Giles (Ademeno 20 (sub: Carter 89)), Malcolm. Subs not used: Jordan, Napper.

Salisbury City: Bittner, Clohessy (sub: Brown 16), Ruddick, Turley, Cox, Anderson (Oastler 76), Clarke, O’Hara (Osman 80), Flood, Webb, Tubbs. Subs not used: Gray, Tafazolli.

Referee: Andy Davies (Southampton).

Attendance: 603 (63 Salisbury).