Whatever Francis Vines is putting in the half time tea at Broadfield Stadium it is certainly doing the trick.

After another dismal first half showing the Reds came out a different side after the interval to seal a thoroughly deserved 2-0 victory against an unambitious Stafford Rangers.

Crawley boss Vines said: "We defended really well in the first half but the front two did not work hard enough to make any openings.

"We had to move the ball around quicker after the break and make better runs to open them up and I thought we did that well."

There was hardly a noteworthy moment in the entire opening 45 minutes as the visitors sat back in the hope of sneaking something on the break while Crawley lacked the invention needed to break Rangers down.

But four minutes after the restart the game was brought to life by the first of two pieces of skill which illuminated an otherwise dull game.

Justin Gregory beat his marker for pace down the left and his cross was perfectly flighted to give Carl Wilson-Denis the simplest of tasks to head home from six yards.

Crawley never looked back and should have added to their lead - especially when Wilson-Denis hit the post from 12 yards - before Mo Harkin eventually sealed victory with 13 minutes to go in sensational fashion.

There seemed little danger when the ball broke to the little winger 30 yards from goal but, after taking a touch, he sent a shot rocketing into the top corner of the net.

After that there was no way back for Rangers who wasted their best chance when the league's leading scorer, Daniel Davidson, shot wastefully wide.

Vines added: "They were two great pieces of skill for the goals and I thought they were worthy of winning any game."

The win extended Crawley's unbeaten run to 14 games and with Nuneaton Borough and Weymouth both slipping up they are now only two points off the top in third place. However, Vines is not getting carried away just yet.

"It is very open at the top and there must be six teams in with a shout of winning it," said Vines.

"If we are up there at Christmas we have a great chance but first we must make sure we are up there."

To do that Vines knows he must find a way to start winning away from home after seven draws on their travels this season, starting at Cambridge City tomorrow night.