Crawley 2 Cambridge 0: Crawley snapped out of the gloom of their frustrating draw on Saturday by notching a comfortable win despite being reduced to ten men.

First-half goals by Daniel Marney and Mo Harkin secured three points for the Reds in an assured display of attacking football at Broadfield last night.

Supporters saw new signing Karl Ready make a confident home debut alongside Kevin Hemsley.

Marc Pullan was consigned to the bench despite having recovered from a back problem.

A foot injury to former Albion player Paul Armstrong allowed club captain Peter Fear to make his first start of the season following a groin operation during the summer.

Marney gave Crawley the lead in only the third minute when he controlled a pass from Harkin and chipped effortlessly past advancing goalkeeper Martin Davies for his fourth goal of the season.

The Albion loan striker gave a sharp, determined display and might have added a second in the 16th minute after a good run but his strike from just inside the area flew narrowly wide.

Hemsley was denied the opportunity of making it 2-0 in the 29th minute when his header was handled on the line by a Cambridge defender.

Harkin scored from the ensuing penalty for his second successful spot kick in as many matches.

Hemsley was coming forward well for set pieces and in the 31st minute he forced a save with a spectacular overhead kick from a Fear throw-in.

Marney had another good effort saved from point blank range after being put through by fellow Albion loanee Carl Wilson-Denis.

Cambridge seldom broke through Crawley's four-man defence, which was well commanded by the giant Ready. In a rare breakaway early in the second half goalkeeper Andy Little got down well to deny Jamie Godbold's left-footed shot from 20-yards.

Reds had to play out the majority of the second half with only ten men after Robert Smith was sent off by referee James Linington for a second bookable offence.

Smith's 55th minute dismissal came from a bad tackle on Robbie Simpson.

Crawley: Little, Judge, Dean, Ready, Hemsley, Smith, Harkin, Fear, Wilson-Denis, Marney, Brake. Subs: Payne, MacDonald, Richardson, Pullan, Anderson.

Cambridge: Davies, Pope, Wardley, Pluck, Quilter, Bell, Miller, Godbold, Bloomfield, Paul, Nightingale. Subs: Simpson, Chassey, Baillie, Bulman.

Referee: James Linington (Isle of Wight).