Crawley were sunk by two Paul Kiely goals as Stafford Rangers won 2-1 at Broadfield to leapfrog them in the premier division.

Billy Smith's side put in a poor performance and could not build on their 3-0 destruction of Bath City in midweek.

Smith admitted: "Our midfield did nothing to help the defence out but I thought our front two, Warren Bagnall and Warren Waugh, worked very hard.

"Both goals we conceded were very poor on our part, and we have to start to make our tackles. We missed Keith Sharman and Marc Pullan badly at the back."

Flu-ridden Pullan and Sharman (knee) were joined on the sidelines by the injured Jimmy Dack, so Smith had to reshuffle his pack, bringing in Ian Payne and Lee Doherty while Andy Little returned in goal after suspension.

There was very little to thrill the crowd of 1,028 during the first half of the game, although Waugh should have scored for Reds on nine minutes but saw Richard Williams make a fine save.

Kiely and the lively Shaun Wray went closest for Stafford as they were allowed to impose themselves on the game, while Darren Simkin and Craig Lovatt really should have put the visitors in front.

After the break, Stewart Holmes had to clear off the line from Kiely before Stafford took a 62nd-minute lead when Lovatt was upended by Payne, and Kiely netted the penalty.

Just three minutes later, Crawley were on level terms as Bagnall netted the goal he had been searching for, getting the final touch after his header had come back off the crossbar.

Reds hearts were broken eight minutes from time as indecision from John Ugbah allowed Kiely to nip in and beat Little with a low shot which stole the points for Stafford.

Substitute Steve Restarick went close late on for Crawley with a header, but it was too late for the home side.