Crawley went down 2-1 at relegated Ilkeston as they paid for missing a succession of chances.

It was hardly the ideal preparation for tomorrow's League Cup final second leg when Reds aim to retrieve a 2-1 defecit against premier division strugglers Halesowen.

They went ahead after 19 minutes when Mo Harkin's corner bounced away from the goal-line to Ernie Cooksey who smashed it home.

Within a minute, captain Ben Judge was adjudged to have pulled down striker Leon Kelly but Chris Freestone, who once plied his trade in the Premiership with Middlesborough, saw his penalty hit the post.

Danny Hockton twice went close and Nigel Brake missed a chance before Ilkeston turned the game on its head in the second half.

Leon Kelly levelled after 54 minutes, taking advantage of a back heel from Freestone and holding off Ellis Hooper to beat Andy Little, before racing onto a pass tucked inside right back Glen Matten to score the 77th minute winner.

Even then Matten and substitute Nic McDonnell wasted good chances to equalise.