BILLY Smith resumed his managerial career with Crawley, returning to a side still seeking their first league win of the season.

Smith rang the changes bringing in five new players, the most interesting of which was Byron Glasgow, who were forced to quit Reading following a drugs scandal.

Smith said: "I left at the end of last season because I wasn't enjoying it at Crawley, with all the problems going on, but the potential here has always been tremendous. The players showed a great deal of commitment and character".

Glasgow looked a live wire from the start and his defence splitting pass to set up Simon Ullathorne in the 29th minute should have brought a better reward.

But with only goalkeeper Danny McDonnell to beat, Ullathorne tried to lob home and sent his effort over the crossbar instead.

Crawley had survived an early scare when back from Boston defender Andy Taylor hit an over-enthusiastic back pass which forced goal keeper Stuart Searle into a flying save to turn around the post.

But Crawley did well in the first half and enjoyed long spells of sustained pressure which they failed to capitalise upon.

They certainly should have made more of Glasgow's inswinging free kick in the 41st minute which flew across the face of goal but the incoming Jay Lovett couldn't connect.

Halesowen looked much more livelier in the second half and both Stuart Payne and Richard Crisp went close following a couple of fine crosses from Adrian Cooper.

At the opposite end, McDonnell made a fine save to take the ball off Curtis Johnson's head following an excellent cross from Lovett.

Crawley clearly tired in the closing stages and it seemed only a matter of time before Halesowen would score.

Searle kept out Payne with a great block using his legs on 75 minutes and then kept out an effort from gangling striker Clinton Thomas, who had been well shackled by Taylor up to that point, but the rebound fell to former Wolves and Villa player Paul Birch, whose follow up effort was scrambled off the Crawley goal line.

Crawley had a real let off on 79 minutes when a Birch free kick crashed against the crossbar with Searle beaten.

The breakthrough finally arrived three minutes later when Birch provided a precision cross for the unmarked Payne to pounce and head home from close range.

However Crawley could have still salvaged a draw, when Halesowen Thomas, forced back in defence, attempted a clearance kick that struck Johnson on the head and cannoned straight back towards goal but luckily for Halesowen McDonnell was perfectly placed to hold.

A pleased Smith said afterwards: "It was a good performance considering most of the players didn't know each other's names.

"My main worry at the moment is finding a goal keeper as Stuart Searle is out for the next five weeks".

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