Crawley have one foot in the Nationwide Conference next season after a crucial victory at Worcester last night.

Charlie MacDonald's first-half goal was enough to lift the Reds nine points clear at the top of the premier division with just six games to play.

Any lingering doubts about their title credentials were removed by a gutsy display to see off third-placed Worcester.

Manager Francis Vines said: "It was a massive win. In fact it is even bigger than that. It puts pressure on everybody else. I am very confident now but we won't rest until nobody can catch us."

While MacDonald was the goal hero, goalkeeper Andy Little also earned praise from his manager for three vital saves either side of the interval.

Vines added: "We defended very well and Andy made some great saves, which he is paid to do.

"Worcester are not a bad side. We beat them 4-0 at home earlier in the season but they showed us how they can play."

Kick-off was delayed by ten minutes to accomodate Worcester's biggest crowd of the season, 1,856.

Crawley settled quickest and grabbed the decisive goal on 24 minutes. Paul Armstrong fed MacDonald just inside the penalty area and the striker neatly turned inside home defender Barry Woolley before planting a low shot past the left hand of goalkeeper Danny McDonnell.

It was MacDonald's seventh goal in his last five games and Reds doggedly hung on to their lead as the home side, who had lost just once in their previous 12 games, hit back.

Leon Kelly and Adam Wilde both forced great saves from Little before the interval and immediately after the break, the Reds keeper produced his best save to turn Wilde's free-kick around a post.

Crawley: Crawley: Little, Judge, Hankin, Hemsley, Pullan, Fear, Marney, Armstrong,Vansittart, MacDonald, Gregory. Subs not used: Tait, Traynor, Ready, Manuella, Payne.