bottom of the Premier

Division.

Reds manager Billy Smith was delighted with the comeback, but issued a survival warning as he slammed a shocking first-half display.

He said: "It was a game of two halves. We were poor in the first half and we haven't got time to muck about. The players need to find out what it takes to win games in this league if we want to stay in it. It's a strong one and we've got to find the strength needed to survive.

"The first half was probably the worst since I've been back here, but we still created four good chances and could have had a goal."

New signing Dean Green, from Dulwich Hamlet, was guilty of missing a number of chances but Smith and his backroom team have faith in the 21-year-old.

Smith said: "On another day Dean might have had a hat-trick, but he will score goals in time, I know he will.

"People have got to give him a chance."

Crawley should have been two goals ahead within just five minutes after beating the Worcester offside trap.

Lionel Best put new boy Green through. He fancied his chances but shot over with a first-time effort with striker Francis Vines in a better position.

Miscued

Moments later, Vines broke through before teeing up Byron Glasgow, who miscued with a left-foot effort despite only having the goalkeeper to beat.

It was an open game with both defences struggling to contend with two sets of

generous strikers.

Worcester went ahead on 13 minutes when Paul Carty's through ball was snapped up by Mark Owen who finished superbly.

It was no real surprise when the visitors added a second on the half-hour as Owen nodded down Mark Tucker's free kick from halfway and John Deacin let rip with a cracking volley from 18 yards.

Crawley almost fell three behind after the break but were rescued by Best on his own line and a point-blank range save by Andy Little from Paul Davies' header. The home side needed a goal and it came just before the hour when Vines' front-post flick was swept in by Ugbah.

All of a sudden Crawley had sprung into life and threatened with substitute Nigel Brake's charges down the left flank.

Vines had another free header in the penalty area, but saw his effort came back off the woodwork.

The equaliser finally came after a teesing free-kick by Rod McAree five minutes from time ended up at the feet Ugbah who had the simple task of scoring from close range.

Andy Taylor and Curtis Johnson ensured the point heroic defending.

Smith, though, is stunned fellow strugglers Worcester find themselves stuck in a rut at the bottom with many tipping them for great things with former Kidiminster boss Graham Allner taking over as full-time manager.

Smith said: "They have got a lot of experienced players out there and I can't believe where they are in the League.

"But we showed we can battle it out and had a real go in the second half."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.