confidence crisis as they crashed 6-1 at home to premier

division leaders Boston Utd.

Only two weeks ago, championship-chasing Bath put seven past Reds. Smith said: "Heads go down, other players look around at each other and its difficult to lift someone with everyone else's confidence at a low.

"In this League there are different levels. Boston are in the top level. They never gave us a second on the ball. They were better than some pro sides we've played.

"They were too strong for us. We gave them a couple of goals which didn't help.

"I thought they were better than Bath, although the game was similar."

The difference in experience and quality was clear and the League's leading goalscorers were rampant.

Boston manager Steven Evans managed to win a ten-minute delay to the kick off after his side was caught up in traffic on the M25.

Although the visitors enjoyed the majority of possession, Crawley went the closest to scoring early on as Clinton Moore's header was pushed onto the bar by goalkeeper Paul Bastock.

But Reds' stand-in keeper Jason Curtis had a rush of blood, storming out of his box before slipping over and handing a simple goal to Mark Rawle.

Colin Hoyle made it two at a corner, although Francis Vines offered Crawley some hope when he pulled one back.

But more sloppy defending set up Gary Childs for the vistors' third right on the stroke of half-time. The hosts had their chances in the second half but not before Boston had added two more through David Norris.

Both sides hit the woodwork and Vines missed a sitter, leaving Norris to claim a second-half hattrick three minutes from time.

Reds fans may fear the worst with Albion's Reserves visiting Broadfield Stadium tomorrow (7.45pm) in the Sussex Senior Cup.

Hastings Town manager Dean White was satisfied after seeing his side grind out a 2-0 Eastern Division win at home to Wisbech Town.

Second-half goals from Steve Yates and Duncan McArthur clinched the points from a lively encounter.

White said: "We did not play as well as we can but it's all about getting the result.

"Sometimes it's nice to get a win like that because you have to dig in, grit your teeth and grind it out."

Hastings took the lead four minutes into the second half when a swift break ended with Paul Jones crossing for Yates to score with a diving header.

Victory

They made sure of victory in added time thanks to a stunning 20-yard strike from McArthur. Fellow midfielders Terry White and Danny Simmonds also went close. Wisbech had their chances too but goalkeeper Tony Kessell was equal to anything they could throw at him, pulling off a trio of fine saves.

After crashing out of two cups the previous week, St Leonards extended their unbeaten league run to five matches with a 1-1 draw at VS Rugby.

In their first ever match against the Midlands outfit, Saints fell behind and were denied a late winner in a bruising encounter at Butlin Road.

With the game just a minute old, Rugby mounted the first attack and a long ball into the box found their leading scorer Paul John who made no mistake from close range

The second period saw the visitors change their game plan and, instead of trying to match their opponents's physical approach, they started to move the ball around more.

They were rewarded with the equaliser ten minutes from time when Peter Baker fired home from 30 yards.

The visitors thought they had hit an injury-time winner as the ball was bundled over the line in a melee but the effort was disallowed.

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