Billy Smith hailed his side's great escape after the Reds came from 2-0 down against Tiverton to secure a place in the second round of the FA Cup last night.

Smith's Dr Martens League premier division title-chasers showed tremendous character to haul themselves back into the match against the Devon side after trailing to two strikes from Richard Pears.

The hosts conceded a goal in the eighth minute and they lacked any fluidity in the first half.

Far from being spurred on by a huge home crowd, Crawley seemed to freeze up on the big occasion.

But despite conceding a second goal 19 minutes into the second half, Crawley refused to give up and played some scintillating attacking football to crank up the atmosphere.

Nic McDonnell struck twice to make it 2-2 and substitute Warren Bagnall scored three minutes from time as the home side poured forward.

Smith said: "It was exciting to say the least. When their second one went in I thought we were on the way out but that was a tremendous fightback.

"I've seen one of my sides score three goals in the last five minutes before but that was nearly as dramatic."

Smith admitted his side were out of sorts in the first half but said the decision to send on Bagnall was the turning point.

He added: "I felt we needed a bit of pace up there. I was looking at their defence and they were definitely tiring.

"They played a game on Saturday and perhaps that was decisive. Warren made some space for himself and he took his chance well.

"I'm delighted for the players. They are thrilled and this is why I got involved with football, to see the players and fans enjoy themselves when things go well."

Smith named an unchanged team in the same 3-5-2 formation from the first round clash in the West Country ten days ago which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Crowd congestion meant the start was delayed 15 minutes but when the eagerly-awaited tie finally got underway it was the visitors who started the more brightly. They could have taken the lead as early as the first minute when Kevin Nancekivell scored with an excellent right foot finish after a ball from Winter but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Seven minutes later though Tivvy did open the scoring with a superb individual goal from Pears.

The former Exeter player, who made 68 appearances in six years for the South West side, ran with the ball for 30 yards before beating Marc Pullen on the edge of the box and cracking a low right foot finish past Little.

The goal was just reward for the Tivvy's positive start to the match and rocked the hosts.

Centre back Ellis Hooper responded for Crawley by charging forward on a mazy run but his shot was blocked.

The Reds did fashion a good chance to equalise in the 24th minute when Stevens crossed from the right and McDonnell headed straight at Paul Edwards in the visitors' goal.

Tiverton responded a minute later with a cross from Steve Winter which Everett headed wide.

Crawley rallied after the break as they attacked the huge terrace of home support behind Edwards' goal.

Judge headed Harkin's cross from the left over and then McDonnell failed to test Edwards from Harkin's ball from a similar position.

McDonnell headed in the equaliser in the away leg and Smith had obviously instructed his troops to pump plenty of high balls in the visitors' box.

Stevens' shot was deflected into the side netting from close range as the home fans sensed an equaliser.

However it was Tiverton who scored again to give themselves a fabulous opportunity of reaching the second round of the competition for the first time in their history.

It was the livewire Pears who capped an impressive display with his fourth goal of the season when he headed in Everett's right wing cross in the 64th minute at the back post.

Tiverton's joy was shortlived however as McDonnell scored from close range a minute later after Edwards had failed to gather Le Bihan's shot from the left.

Smith threw on Bagnall for defender Hooper and he swiftly got into the action with a header which flashed over.

McDonnell came back haunt Tiverton with 11 minutes remaining as he struck with a low right foot effort after Stevens had unselfishly laid the ball across goal to him.

Incredibly there was still time for the rampant Reds to snatch a winner after Stevens and McDonnell again combined and substitute Bagnall tapped in a left foot shot from close range after rounding the visitors' keeper.

Conference side Dagenham and Redbridge provide the opponents in round two and some Crawley fans will already be thinking about their last great cup adventure when they reached the third round and met Albion at the Goldstone in 1992.

Crawley: Little, Judge, Cooksey, Hooper (Bagnall 72), Pullan, Fear, Holmes, Harkin (Hemsley 90), McDonnell, Stevens, Le Bihan. Subs not used: Hockton, Payne, Patterson.

Tiverton: Edwards, Winter (Lynch 89), Haines (Mudge 89), Peters, Rudge, Cousins, Nancekivell, Rees, Everett, Rogers, Pears. Subs not used: Ovens, Holloway, Steele.

Referee: Lee Probert (Bristol).

Attendance: 3,907.

Man-of-the-match: Nic McDonnell - saved Crawley for the second time.