Crawley Town had to settle for a goalless draw at St Albans City but boss Francis Vines is confident his side can win Tuesday evening's replay.

Despite slippery conditions, both teams forged chances to snatch this game and one goal would have been enough to reach the third round.

Vines said: "It was nice to not let a goal in and a draw was probably a fair result.

"We would have liked to have settled it but we can certainly win the replay and I think their manager is probably thinking the same thing."

The pace was frantic from start to finish and it was the hosts who carved out the first chance when Jamie Richards fired straight at Reds' stand-in custodian Craig Holloway in the 19th minute.

Crawley replied immediately and Saints' keeper Wesley Jackman had to be at full stretch to tip over a Justin Gregory free kick.

St Albans were in trouble again when Gregory's corner struck the bar and fell to hitman Charlie MacDonald, who was unable to react in time.

The home side had a chance through Simon Martin which was cleared by Karl Ready, while influential Jay Murray hit the side-netting and Corey Campbell's 30-yard effort went wide.

In the 55th minute, Paul Armstrong's shot after a cut-back from Gregory was blocked for a corner and MacDonald latched on to the delivery but his overhead kick went wide.

Saints almost nicked it when a Scott Oakes' free-kick went just wide and Martin found himself just five yards from the goal but his point-blank shot was blocked by Ben Judge on the line.

Five minutes from time, MacDonald shot from 20 yards and the ball squirmed under Jackman and somehow went over the bar.