Scott Neilson's goal was enough for Crawley to beat Accrington and seal automatic promotion to League One.

Visiting keeper Scott Shearer made a string of saves to deny Marcus Carver, Padraig Amond and Michael Liddle.

As the Red Devils pushed on after the break, John Akinde was denied twice by Ian Dunbavin, while Kyle McFadzean saw an effort clip the crossbar.

And Neilson made the breakthrough when he latched onto Warren Cummings's long pass and fired in a low strike.

Stanley's Amond had a header cleared off the line by David Hunt at the end of a the first half, but the Red Devils came out after half time looking to kill the game off.

Neilson's strike ensured that his side have secured two promotions in two seasons.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Crawley caretaker manger Craig Brewster told BBC Sussex:

"I'm absolutely delighted for the club. For a club like Crawley Town, back-to-back promotions is an amazing achievement.

"The fans came in numbers today from six hours away and really backed us.

"We lost last week but in football, sometimes when you expect something it doesn't happen.

"But today you've seen the real determination from all the players and its a nice feeling."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (3)

Accrington Stanley

  • 25 Dunbavin
  • 05 Nsiala Booked
  • 12 Murphy
  • 29 Liddle
  • 08 Barnett (Hatfield - 87' )
  • 11 Joyce
  • 14 McIntyre
  • 17 Devitt (Hughes - 60' )
  • 07 Lindfield
  • 23 Amond
  • 37 Carver (Evans - 57' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Nicholls
  • 27 Hughes
  • 30 Hatfield
  • 40 Stockdale
  • 19 Evans

Crawley Town

  • 25 Shearer
  • 05 McFadzean
  • 28 Davis
  • 30 Cummings
  • 08 Torres
  • 11 Simpson
  • 13 Hunt
  • 15 Bulman
  • 22 Neilson
  • 09 Alexander
  • 17 Akinde

Substitutes

  • 01 Kuipers
  • 04 Mills
  • 02 Davies
  • 07 Clarke
  • 10 Watt
Ref: Deadman
Att: 2,299

Match Stats

Shots

9 19

On target

8 8

Corners

9 4

Fouls

11 4

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:18 Full time

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

90:00 +1:11

The referee blows for offside against Gary Alexander. Direct free kick taken by Michael Liddle.

90:00 +0:07

Kevin McIntyre concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Alexander. Kyle McFadzean takes the free kick.

88:36

Josh Simpson fouled by Aristote Nsiala, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Claude Davis.

86:27 Substitution

Substitution Will Hatfield joins the action as a substitute, replacing Charlie Barnett.

86:05

Centre by Luke Joyce, save by Scott Shearer.

82:17

Warren Cummings restarts play with the free kick.

82:17 Booking

Booking Aristote Nsiala goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

82:03

Unfair challenge on John Akinde by Aristote Nsiala results in a free kick.

77:33

The assistant referee flags for offside against Luke Joyce. Scott Shearer takes the indirect free kick.

76:56

Charlie Barnett takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Warren Cummings makes a clearance.

75:34

Luke Joyce takes a shot. Kyle McFadzean gets a block in.

73:44

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Charlie Barnett, clearance made by Claude Davis.

71:50

Padraig Amond challenges Sergio Torres unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Warren Cummings.

71:14

Close range headed effort by Gary Alexander misses to the right of the goal.

70:27

Michael Liddle challenges John Akinde unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Hunt takes the free kick.

67:16

Gary Alexander takes a shot. Save by Ian Dunbavin.

66:03

Assist by Kyle McFadzean.

66:03 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Neilson - Accrington 0 - 1 Crawley Scott Neilson finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 0-1 Crawley Town.

64:17

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Charlie Barnett played to the near post, David Hunt makes a clearance.

60:48

Corner taken right-footed by Scott Neilson, Kyle McFadzean takes a shot. Craig Lindfield makes a clearance.

60:32

John Akinde takes a shot. Save made by Ian Dunbavin.

59:28 Substitution

Substitution (Accrington Stanley) makes a substitution, with Bryan Hughes coming on for Jamie Devitt.

58:54

Header from deep inside the area by Kyle McFadzean goes over the bar.

56:21 Substitution

Substitution Micah Evans replaces Marcus Carver.

54:18

Marcus Carver concedes a free kick for a foul on Sergio Torres. The ball is sent over by Warren Cummings, Claude Davis takes a shot. Save made by Ian Dunbavin. Corner taken by Scott Neilson.

54:18

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marcus Carver on Sergio Torres. Scott Shearer takes the indirect free kick.

52:02

Shot from close range by John Akinde misses to the right of the goal.

50:33

Close range headed effort by Gary Alexander misses to the right of the target.

48:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Lindfield by Sergio Torres. Ian Dunbavin takes the free kick.

48:00

Effort from inside the area by Claude Davis misses to the left of the target.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:08 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +0:10

Scott Neilson produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

43:30

Michael Liddle takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Simpson.

40:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Neilson on Jamie Devitt. Ian Dunbavin takes the free kick.

40:03

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jamie Devitt, Padraig Amond takes a shot. Clearance made by David Hunt.

39:26

Gary Alexander concedes a free kick for a foul on Aristote Nsiala. Ian Dunbavin takes the free kick.

37:51

A cross is delivered by David Hunt, Sergio Torres takes a shot. Save by Ian Dunbavin.

37:03

Charlie Barnett concedes a free kick for a foul on Kyle McFadzean. Direct free kick taken by Scott Shearer.

36:42

John Akinde concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke Joyce. Free kick taken by Aristote Nsiala.

35:05

Michael Liddle takes a shot. Sergio Torres gets a block in. Jamie Devitt takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Neilson.

33:53

Gary Alexander fouled by Peter Murphy, the ref awards a free kick. David Hunt delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance made by Padraig Amond.

33:17

Gary Alexander takes a shot. Save made by Ian Dunbavin.

32:49

Outswinging corner taken by Scott Neilson from the right by-line.

31:40

Scott Neilson delivers the ball, Aristote Nsiala manages to make a clearance.

30:25

Josh Simpson takes a shot. Blocked by Peter Murphy.

30:06

Foul by Craig Lindfield on Sergio Torres, free kick awarded. Scott Shearer restarts play with the free kick.

27:46

Kevin McIntyre challenges Scott Neilson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Shearer.

24:30

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Devitt from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Scott Shearer.

21:11

Shot by Josh Simpson from outside the box goes over the net.

20:42

The assistant referee flags for offside against Padraig Amond. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Shearer.

18:58

Gary Alexander has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

16:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sergio Torres by Luke Joyce. David Hunt produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

14:56

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Devitt, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Marcus Carver misses to the right of the goal.

13:44

The assistant referee flags for offside against Gary Alexander. Free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

11:01

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Charlie Barnett from the right by-line to the near post, Michael Liddle takes a shot. Save made by Scott Shearer.

10:43

Padraig Amond takes a shot. Save by Scott Shearer.

6:38

Effort on goal by John Akinde from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

6:07

Corner from the right by-line taken by Scott Neilson, clearance made by Aristote Nsiala.

4:30

Scott Neilson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

2:59

The referee blows for offside against Charlie Barnett. Scott Shearer takes the free kick.

1:55

Marcus Carver takes a shot. Save by Scott Shearer. Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Devitt from the right by-line, Scott Shearer makes a save.

0:14

Peter Murphy takes a short corner.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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