Crawley boss John Hollins criticised his players for a lacklustre second half performance following a crushing defeat.

Reds ran out of steam after a good first half display against Weymouth at Broadfield Stadium last night to drop back to the bottom of the Conference.

The visitors scored all three goals after the break and Hollins admits his side let themselves down.

He said: "We didn't start after half time and you can't do that against a team who are third in league. We knew they were going to come out and go at us but we didn't do anything about it.

"Full credit to Weymouth, they punished us with every chance they got. They are a very good team but the disappointing thing from our point of view is the way we lost."

Defender Jamie Lovegrove, 16, who made his fourth consecutive start, added: "We didn't play anywhere near the way we can in the second half. Everyone is very disappointed.

"We can do a lot better and now we have to work twice as hard to put it right."

The previous occasion Weymouth played at Broadfield Stadium was a memorable Dr Martens clash in 2004.

More than 4,500 fans turned out on a cold March Saturday - the highest gate at the ground - to see Reds take a giant step towards the title with a 2- 1 win.

The record breaking total was in stark contrast to last night's attendance, illustrating the disillusionment felt by many fans in the town with the club's off-field problems, although it was still the second best of the season so far.

Those supporters who did turn up were encouraged by the opening 45 minutes as Crawley more than matched the in-form visitors.

Hollins had made two changes to the side that beat Morecambe 4-0 with fit-again winger Tony Scully returning at the expense of Lee Blackburn and Jake Edwards somewhat surprisingly replacing four-goal striker Ben Strevens in attack.

Edwards' inclusion was vindicated in the first half as the big target man proved Crawley's biggest attacking threat.

As well as going close with a turn and shot into the side netting on 19 minutes, his strength in the air and physical power constantly caused the visiting defence problems and created chances for his team-mates.

Scully also looked dangerous on the right flank and went closest to breaking the deadlock for Reds before the break.

The former QPR man stung the palms of the Terras keeper with a vicious angled drive from just inside the box on 36 minutes.

Weymouth were almost handed an undeserved lead at the interval when home keeper Ben Hamer missed the ball completely as he tried to catch a floated corner by former Crawley winger Lee Elam.

The ball landed at the feet of defender Simon Downer and his volley was cleared off the line by the covering Scott Hiley.

Ben Judge, the only Crawley survivor from that previous Weymouth match, was replaced in the centre of defence for the second half by Pat Sappleton, who made his first appearance for three games following a hamstring injury.

It was the returning defender's mistake with his first touch that gave the Terras the chance to go ahead four minutes after the restart.

He attempted to dive and head the ball in the six-yard box as it bounced two feet off the ground from Elam's cross and got it caught under his body. Raphael Nade stole in to lay the ball back for Richard Logan to slot under the advancing Hamer.

Crawley's response was positive and they went close to levelling six minutes later when Dave Woozley sent a header wide from a free-kick by substitute Blackburn.

The visitors' slender lead was seemingly not enough to please manager Garry Hill as he was sent to the stands on the hour for abusing the fourth official.

His mood would have improved on 68 minutes when his side struck again with a brilliant opportunist strike.

A corner by former Albion midfielder Shaun Wilkinson was nodded down by Nade and captain Ben Smith back-heeled into the top corner from close range.

Hollins went for broke for the last 20 minutes, bringing on Strevens for young fullback Lovegrove to play in a threepronged attack. But Reds failed to create another scoring opportunity and Weymouth, despite being reduced to ten men on 79 minutes when Dean Howell received a second yellow card, killed off the game with nine minutes remaining.

Elam hurdled two challenges as he surged into the box before finishing calmly over the diving Hamer.

Crawley Town: Hamer, Judge (sub Sappleton 46), Hiley, Woozley, Lovegrove (sub Strevens 70), Mills (sub Blackburn 53), Bostwick, Bulman, Scully, Edwards, Rendell. Subs not used: Tolfrey, Brown.

Weymouth: Lee-Barrett, Tully, Downer, O'Brien, El Kholti, Howell, Wilkinson, Smith, Elam (sub Challis 90), Logan (sub Weaterstone 82), Nade (sub Eribenne 86). Subs not used: Matthews, Purser.

Referee: S Beck (Essex).

Attendance: 1,218.

Man-of-the-match: Lee Elam.