Manager Garry Wilson believes Eastbourne Borough need one more win to be guaranteed a place in the Conference South next season.
Borough beat Weston-super-Mare 1-0 at Priory Lane in the premier division, thanks to Matt Smart's 67th-minute header from a free kick by Danny Simmonds.
Smart was then sent off in injury time after an altercation with Matt Rose, who also saw red. Matt Piper made his debut after signing from Albion, while defender Steve Dell has left the club to join Hornchurch.
Victory leaves Borough on 52 points, six above the cut-off zone for the new division with five games remaining.
Wilson said: "I've said all along that I think 55 points will be enough for us. This is another three vital points and we probably just need another one from our remaining games.
"We have been churning out results recently so hopefully we will be able to secure a place sooner rather than later."
Crawley's lead at the top was trimmed to six points after Weymouth's 2-1 win at Stafford Rangers. Reds were without a game.
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