Crawley's promotion bid looks in ruins after lowly Bath City sent them spinning to a 2-1 defeat in the Premier Division.

Appalling home form over the last couple of months has seen Billy Smith's side slip a massive 18 points behind title favourites Tamworth.

Saturday's performance will not encourage the hardy 886 spectators to come along on New Year's Day and support the Reds against Sussex rivals Hastings United.

With no home win in the league since October 5 and defender Ben Judge suspended, boss Smith made several changes to his side, with midfielder Barry Moore and striker Dave Stevens dropped to the bench.

Warren Bagnall linked up with Nic McDonnell in attack while Stewart Holmes filled in for Judge at right-back and the early signs were promising as Crawley dominated.

Bath keeper Mark Bryant was forced into a fine save with his legs to keep out McDonnell's close-range shot after just six minutes and he came to their rescue again on 12 minutes when he headed off his goalline after defender Jim Rollo's flick appeared to be going in his own goal.

However, after half an hour of pressure, Reds were caught by a sucker punch when Bath struck from their first corner of the game.

Keeper Andy Little fumbled Stuart James' inswinging corner, and Jason Eaton forced the ball across the line completely against the run of play.

Seven minutes into the second-half Crawley were given a mountain to climb when Little spilt a shot from Eaton and young striker Dan Cleverley forced the ball home to give Bath a commanding 2-0 lead.

Smith brought on Nigel Brake, Stevens and Danny Hockton in a desperate bid to retrieve something from the game and Crawley went close when Neil Le Bihan's cross hit the bar and flew over.

On 75 minutes McDonnell burst down the left and only a touch from Iain Harvey prevented Stevens from pulling a goal back at the far post.

Stevens went close again before Reds finally did pull a goal back, although it was too little too late when Hockton headed in from Mo Harkin's free-kick three minutes from time.

Crawley: Little, Holmes (Stevens 65), Cooksey, Hooper, Pullan, Hemsley, Fear (Brake 53), Harkin, McDonnell, Bagnall (Hockton 75), Le Bihan. Unused subs: Moore, Patterson.

Hastings United's poor run of results continued when they lost 2-1 at fellow strugglers Halesowen Town.

Already without three players due to suspensions and injury, Hastings manager George Wakeling was dealt a further blow when Danny Simmonds was ruled out by flu.

Halesowen took the lead after just seven minutes when United keeper Dave King failed to deal with a corner and Jason Ashby rifled home from 12 yards.

Nick Hegley was unlucky not to equalise ten minutes later when his effort from 25 yards hit the inside of the far post and rebounded back across the face of goal.

Hastings levelled two minutes before half-time when Paul Ruddy sent a looping header over the stranded home keeper Chris Adamson.

United looked the better side for most of the second half but slipped to defeat when a cross from the left on 64 minutes by Les Hines was tapped in at the far post by Richard Leadbetter.