Crawley see off Harrogate to claim first win since relegation

Crawley claimed their first win since their relegation from League One with a 1-0 victory at Harrogate.

The Red Devils travelled to North Yorkshire having taken just two points from their opening six matches but got up and running courtesy of Reece Brown’s first-half strike.

Dion Pereira shot wide, Brown drilled one just over and Harry McKirdy saw a volley held by James Belshaw as the visitors threatened early on before Harrogate’s Shawn McCoulsky bent an effort narrowly wide of the upright.

The deadlock was broken after 42 minutes as Brown curled a shot beyond Belshaw from the edge of the box.

McKirdy could have made it 2-0 just two minutes after the resumption but cleared the crossbar and the Sulphurites almost equalised moments later when Ellis Taylor struck a post.

Stephen Duke-McKenna then drew a save from Harry Davies before McKirdy raced clean through, only to be denied by Belshaw.

Crawley debutant Ryan Loft was sent off for two bookings late on, but his side managed to hold on without him.