Crawley boss Billy Smith blasted the decision to abandon Saturday's Dr Martens premier division match at Tiverton.

Referee Curtis called a halt after 70 minutes because of heavy rain, even though both teams wanted to finish the game.

The decision was taken five minutes after Crawley had made the score 1-1.

Smith said: "The pitch played better than I thought it would and it would have made sense to finish the game.

"I was not surprised when the referee stopped the game, though, because he made some confusing decisions all afternoon.

"The pitch was no worse than at half-time when the referee took the teams off. I thought our lads played very well under such difficult conditions."

Reds arrived in Devon without influential duo Peter Fear and Ellis Hooper, who were suspended, so Smith started with Mo Harkin just behind a front two of Dave Stevens and Nic McDonnell.

The home side were out to avenge their 3-2 defeat at Broadfield last month in the FA Cup.

Tiverton adapted quicker to the conditions and applied the early pressure.

In the 17th minute, Richard Pearsm opened the scoring with his fourth goal against Reds this season, heading a Scott Rogers free-kick past goalkeeper Andy Little.

Reds came into the game as the half wore on and only a goalline clearance from defender Rob Cousins denied McDonnell an equaliser.

Tiverton went close to extending their lead as hot-shot Jamie Mudge wasted a fine chance, side-footing wide with Little committed after being set up by Pears.

At the other end, Stevens wastefully headed across goal from an Ernie Cooksey cross.

McDonnell had a goal ruled out for offside three minutes into first-half stoppage-time after Tiverton's on-loan keeper Ben Foster flapped at a cross.

Warren Bagnall replaced Stevens at the break and Reds found a new attacking impetus, midfielder Barry Moore going closest to an equaliser with a low drive which Foster did well to turn away.

On 65 minutes, Nathan Rudge was penalised for holding back Bagnall in the box and Harkin fired home from the penalty spot.

Five minutes later, referee Curtis picked up the ball and called a halt to the game, with Reds in the driving seat and looking the more likely winners.

Crawley: Little, Judge, Cooksey, Moore, Pullan, Hemsley, Holmes, Harkin, McDonnell, Stevens (Bagnall 45), Le Bihan. Unused subs: Patterson, Brake, Wackett, Timlin. Attendance: 793.