Matt Tubbs scored twice, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner, as Crawley beat Gateshead 2-1 to go top of the Blue Square Bet premier.

It was harsh on the visitors who defended stoutly and Crawley's final ball often lacked quality.

But a proven goalscorer like Tubbs is worth his weight in gold and the £70,000 capture from Salisbury produced a superb header inside a crowded six-yard box after he was picked out by Kyle McFadzean's cross.

The first half was disappointing and the visitors created the best chance when Kris Gate headed a cross against the underside of the bar.

But Reds went in front two minutes after the break when Tubbs was sent sprawling as he tried to turn defender James Curtis in the box and Tubbs sent goalkeeper Tim Deasy the wrong way from the spot.

Gateshead levelled within four minutes when former Crawley striker Jon Shaw ghosted into space to volley home Craig Nelthorpe's cross after Reds failed to clear a corner.

Reds poured forward in the closing stages and Ben Smith thought he had won it when he stabbed a shot against the post and the rebound was smuggled off the line by Curtis as the home players appealed it had crossed the line.

Assistant Manager Paul Raynor said: "We set the objective of being top before the game and we have achieved that. It wasn't always pretty and at times they had 11 men behind the ball.

"We got in front then switched off at the set piece which was sloppy but we made some bold decisions with the substitutions and produced a grandstand finish to get the goal."

Reds go to second-placed AFC Wimbledon on Thursday and Tubbs admitted the game was now set up perfectly.

He said: "They have got a decent following and it should be a good game. It's a big game but if we end up losing there are still 30-odd games to go."