Crawley twice came from behind to pick up their first league win in eight games at the expense of Port Vale.

Marc Richards put the visitors ahead with a well-taken shot, while Sergio Torres levelled with a close-range header after good work by Billy Clarke.

Vale's Clayton McDonald saw red for two yellow cards, although they went ahead when Louis Dodds slotted in.

Gary Alexander levelled at the second time of asking, before tapping home Leon Clarke's cross for the winner.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Crawley boss Steve Evans told BBC Sussex:

"We've been deserving to win a game for a long time, with the chances we've created and the dominance we've had.

"In the first 25 minutes we looked nervous. At half time we said we had to be brave and inspire the supporters and give them a reason to get behind us. We were different class in the second half.

"Leon Clarke met the boys at half past 12 for his pre-match warm-up, and I thought he was magnificent. It was a good win for us today but we've got another difficult game at Gillingham."

Port Vale manager Micky Adams told BBC Radio Stoke:

"I think we showed a lot of spirit, and although we've lost the game of football I think we've shown that we're a decent side.

"The events of the past week have been disappointing but the one thing that the players have got to do is to go out and perform, and they've shown real character today.

"Marc Richards has terrorised Pablo Mills and Claude Davis all day and I thought he was outstanding, he showed real leadership quality today."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Crawley Town

  • 01 Kuipers
  • 03 Howell
  • 04 Mills
  • 05 McFadzean
  • 28 Davis (Simpson - 52' )
  • 07 Clarke (Watt - 72' )
  • 08 Torres
  • 15 Bulman
  • 31 James (Davies - 27' )
  • 09 Alexander Booked
  • 39 Clarke

Substitutes

  • 26 Gilmartin
  • 02 Davies
  • 11 Simpson
  • 22 Neilson
  • 10 Watt

Port Vale

  • 12 Tomlinson
  • 05 McCombe
  • 25 McDonald Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 03 Taylor
  • 07 Loft
  • 14 Marshall (Davis - 49' )
  • 17 Rigg (Williamson - 86' )
  • 18 Morsy Booked
  • 20 Shuker (Yates - 84' )
  • 08 Dodds
  • 09 Richards

Substitutes

  • 02 Yates
  • 26 Davis
  • 21 James
  • 11 Pope
  • 19 Williamson
Ref: Brown
Att: 2,375

Match Stats

Shots

20 7

On target

10 5

Corners

9 5

Fouls

6 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:31 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +4:30

Sanchez Watt takes a shot. Save by Stuart Tomlinson. Inswinging corner taken by Scott Davies.

90:00 +1:24

Sergio Torres gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sam Morsy. Stuart Tomlinson restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:16

Sam Morsy restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:16 Booking

Booking Booking for Gary Alexander for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +0:08

Gary Alexander concedes a free kick for a foul on Robert Taylor.

89:13

Sanchez Watt fouled by Robert Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Davies takes the indirect free kick.

87:23

Gary Alexander takes a shot. Stuart Tomlinson makes a save. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Davies from the left by-line. Foul by Marc Richards on Kyle McFadzean, free kick awarded. Scott Davies takes the free kick.

85:44 Substitution

Substitution Ben Williamson replaces Sean Rigg.

84:43

Inswinging corner taken by Scott Davies, save by Stuart Tomlinson.

83:17 Substitution

Substitution Adam Yates is brought on as a substitute for Chris Shuker.

82:04

Assist on the goal came from Leon Clarke.

82:04 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Alexander - Crawley 3 - 2 Port Vale Gary Alexander grabs a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Crawley Town 3-2 Port Vale.

80:10

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marc Richards. Scott Davies restarts play with the free kick.

79:33

Leon Clarke takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Tomlinson.

75:47

Leon Clarke has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

74:57

Foul by Sergio Torres on Doug Loft, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Doug Loft.

74:23

Handball by Gary Alexander. Stuart Tomlinson takes the free kick.

73:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sanchez Watt by Sam Morsy. Kyle McFadzean restarts play with the free kick.

72:19

Scott Davies takes a shot. Save by Stuart Tomlinson.

71:30 Substitution

Substitution Sanchez Watt comes on in place of Billy Clarke.

69:23 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Alexander - Crawley 2 - 2 Port Vale Gary Alexander scores a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Crawley Town 2-2 Port Vale.

66:17

Corner taken right-footed by Scott Davies, Pablo Mills takes a shot. Clearance made by Robert Taylor.

63:43

Corner from right by-line taken by Chris Shuker.

62:00

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Davies, Sam Morsy makes a clearance.

61:16

Leon Clarke takes a shot. Stuart Tomlinson makes a save.

60:54

Unfair challenge on Dean Howell by Marc Richards results in a free kick. Dean Howell takes the indirect free kick.

56:42

Sergio Torres restarts play with the free kick.

56:20

Unfair challenge on Sergio Torres by Sam Morsy results in a free kick.

60:09

Leon Clarke takes a shot. Stuart Tomlinson makes a save.

57:58

Kyle McFadzean takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.

57:01 Goal scored

Goal - Louis Dodds - Crawley 1 - 2 Port Vale Louis Dodds grabs a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Crawley Town 1-2 Port Vale.

56:42

Sergio Torres takes the free kick.

56:42 Booking

Booking Sam Morsy is given a yellow card.

56:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Sam Morsy on Sergio Torres.

33:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sergio Torres by Clayton McDonald. Free kick taken by Dean Howell.

51:54 Substitution

Substitution Josh Simpson comes on in place of Claude Davis.

46:21 Substitution

Substitution Joe Davis is brought on as a substitute for Paul Marshall.

46:21

Scott Davies takes the free kick. Corner taken right-footed by Scott Davies, save made by Stuart Tomlinson. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Scott Davies. Effort from the edge of the area by Claude Davis goes wide of the right-hand upright.

46:39 Dismissal

Dismissal Clayton McDonald sent off.

45:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Clayton McDonald on Scott Davies.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01

Foul by Marc Richards on Kyle McFadzean, free kick awarded. Kyle McFadzean takes the free kick.

45:00 +2:37 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:25

Free kick awarded for a foul by Clayton McDonald on Sergio Torres. Indirect free kick taken by Sergio Torres. Billy Clarke takes a shot. Inswinging corner taken by Billy Clarke, Clayton McDonald makes a clearance.

43:17

Long range effort by Doug Loft goes over the target.

42:41

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Save by Stuart Tomlinson.

41:37

Assist on the goal came from Billy Clarke.

41:37 Goal scored

Goal - Sergio Torres - Crawley 1 - 1 Port Vale Sergio Torres finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Crawley Town 1-1 Port Vale.

40:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Marshall on Dannie Bulman. Scott Davies takes the free kick.

39:37

Foul by Claude Davis on Marc Richards, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Robert Taylor.

38:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sergio Torres by Chris Shuker. Michel Kuipers takes the indirect free kick.

38:03

Effort from the edge of the area by Gary Alexander goes wide of the left-hand upright.

33:42 Booking

Booking Clayton McDonald is booked.

45:34 Substitution

Substitution Joe Davis joins the action as a substitute, replacing Paul Marshall.

45:34

Scott Davies fouled by Clayton McDonald, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Davies restarts play with the free kick. Scott Davies takes the inswinging corner, save by Stuart Tomlinson. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Davies from the right by-line. Claude Davis has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

33:40

Sergio Torres fouled by Chris Shuker, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Howell.

33:02

Effort from the edge of the box by Leon Clarke goes wide of the left-hand upright.

31:09 Goal scored

Goal - Marc Richards - Crawley 0 - 1 Port Vale Marc Richards gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Crawley Town 0-1 Port Vale.

29:50

Sergio Torres gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Louis Dodds. Free kick taken by Louis Dodds.

27:33

Paul Marshall takes a inswinging corner.

26:20 Substitution

Substitution Scott Davies joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lloyd James.

26:20

Effort on goal by Kyle McFadzean from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

23:37

The assistant referee signals for offside against Sean Rigg. Indirect free kick taken by Michel Kuipers.

22:49

The official flags Gary Alexander offside. Stuart Tomlinson takes the free kick.

21:43

Inswinging corner taken by Paul Marshall, save by Michel Kuipers.

21:28

Chris Shuker takes a shot. Pablo Mills gets a block in.

19:57

The assistant referee flags for offside against Sean Rigg. Pablo Mills restarts play with the free kick.

19:21

Sean Rigg takes a shot. Pablo Mills gets a block in.

17:23

Inswinging corner taken by Paul Marshall from the right by-line played to the near post, save made by Michel Kuipers.

13:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Alexander by Clayton McDonald. Direct free kick taken by Lloyd James.

12:47

Doug Loft takes a shot.

11:28

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Stuart Tomlinson.

9:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Shuker on Sergio Torres. Indirect free kick taken by Dean Howell.

8:11

Corner taken left-footed by Billy Clarke, John McCombe manages to make a clearance. Lloyd James produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

5:29

Marc Richards takes a shot. Save by Michel Kuipers. Corner taken right-footed by Chris Shuker from the left by-line, save by Michel Kuipers.

5:00

Kyle McFadzean concedes a free kick for a foul on Doug Loft. Indirect free kick taken by Doug Loft.

4:04

Gary Alexander produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

4:04

Header on goal by Gary Alexander from just inside the area goes over the goal.

2:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sergio Torres by Sam Morsy. Indirect free kick taken by Michel Kuipers.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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