Crawley slipped to their first Dr Martens League defeat of the season and had defender Marc Pullan sent off in a 2-1 defeat at Dover last night.

Reds' boss Billy Smith stuck with the same side which drew 2-2 against Hednesford on Saturday.

Midfielder Neil Le Bihan would have been hoping to add to his goal on Saturday with another against his former club, but there was little sign of a goal at either end early on with moments of quality few and far between.

The visitors created a couple of chances early on, but after seven minutes, Nic McDonnell headed Le Bihan's cross straight at keeper Paul Hyde. A minute later striker Dave Stevens, who also netted against Hednesford, fired well over.

Crawley goalkeeper Andy Little was called into action after 26 minutes when he palmed away Lee Spiller's 25-yard effort.

And it was Dover who took the lead on 32 minutes when Paul Sykes' shot was saved by Little, but from the corner taken by former St Leonards' man Steve Norman, Sykes headed home at the near post.

Smith made a switch at the break, with striker Danny Hockton coming on for the injured Mo Harkin.

McDonnell threatened an equaliser for Crawley with an effort from 20 yards, but the visitors were soon further behind.

On 54 minutes a Dover corner was cleared only as far as Jamie Day who took the ball on his chest and volleyed it past Little.

Reds briefly upped the tempo and pulled a goal back after 64 minutes when Stewart Holmes flicked on Hockton's cross and McDonnell turned to fire home his first goal for Crawley.

But Reds were reduced to ten men seven minutes from time when Pullan picked up his second booking after hauling down Simon Glover.

Crawley: Little, Judge, Payne, Hooper, Pullan, Harkin, Holmes, Le Bihan, McDonnell, Stevens, Brake. Subs: Hockton, Bagnall, Hemsley, Patterson, McKoy.