Manager Francis Vines admits Crawley are not in a false position after seeing them go bottom of the Conference.

Reds suffered their third straight defeat against fellow strugglers Aldershot in front of the live TV cameras at the Recreation Ground last night.

Striker Daryl Clare, signed from Boston last week, got his Crawley debut off to a dream start with a goal after just seven minutes.

The Shots hit back with a free-kick from Ryan Williams and a brace from Tim Sills, before Simon Wormull pulled one back late on for Reds, who were down to ten men by then after James Donovan was sent off for two bookable offences.

Vines said: "We cannot say we are in a false position because we keep getting beaten.

"We are playing well and deserved to have got more from some of the games so far but you can't keep saying that.

"The players need to dig deep and start playing with their hearts more. They are all talented, they just need to work harder and grind out a result and things will come."

Vines paid tribute to Clare's contribution but says it will take the newcomer time to fully gel with the rest of the side.

He said: "I was over the moon for Daryl. He showed what he could do when you give him the ball in the right places.

"It was a shame we didn't do that more and he was left to forage for himself but that will change once he plays a few games."

Clare took just seven minutes to show why Vines splashed out a club record transfer fee for his services, believed to be £60,000.

The former Republic of Ireland under-21 international turned defender Greg Heald eight yards out and lashed a volley into the bottom corner after Wormull had done well to head a deep Sacha Opinel cross into his path.

The strike was only Clare's third touch as a Reds player and came 30 seconds after Albion loanee Chris McPhee had missed a golden chance to put the Shots in front.

McPhee, on a month's spell at the Rec, somehow sent a low cross from winger Ryan Williams wide from close range.

The home side responded to the early set-back by dominating the rest of the first half and they twice went close before equalising on 28 minutes.

Both chances fell to last season's top scorer Sills, who had passed a fitness test on a foot injury before the game.

The tall striker first headed straight at keeper Phil Smith from another Williams cross and then sent a similar effort just over after being picked out by Nick Crittenden.

Williams, making his debut on a four-week loan from Bristol Rovers, was easily Aldershot's best player of the first half and it was fitting the little winger was the player who got his side back on level terms.

After being brought down by Donovan, Williams curled the resulting free-kick from 20 yards over the wall and into the top corner.

Douglas had half a chance to put Reds back in front three minutes before half-time when he dragged wide from the angle of the penalty area after exchanging passes with Clare.

Sills made amends for his earlier wastefulness a minute later when he again beat both Donovan and David Woozley in the area to power a header from another good cross from Williams home.

Reds came within the width of the woodwork of restoring parity just after the break when Wormull curled a free-kick from just outside the area onto a post.

However, Aldershot were soon back in control and went close five minutes later when Crittenden flashed a 20-yard drive just past an upright with Smith well beaten. It was no surprise when Sills put the game beyond doubt from the spot on 68 minutes after a rash challenge by Donovan.

The Reds defender, making his first start in place of suspended skipper Ian Simpemba, had already been booked when he tripped Sills with a sliding tackle, leaving the referee with no choice but to show him a second yellow card. Williams almost added a fourth when he raced clear down the left and curled onto a post from just inside the box.

But, apart from that. Reds dominated the latter stages despite being a man down and they deservedly pulled one back with seven minutes remaining.

The Shots defence failed to clear a long throw from Paul Armstrong and Wormull scuffed a bobbling shot through a crowded area and into the bottom corner.

Wormull almost hit a dramatic equaliser in injury time with a left-foot volley.

Aldershot 3, Crawley 2.

Match facts - Aldershot: Bull, Mustafa, Hamilton, Heald, Guyett, Watson, Crittenden, Somner, Williams, Sills, McPhee (Gearing 77).

Subs not used: Weait, Deen, Scott, Sullaiman. Crawley: Smith, Judge, Donovan, Woozley, Giles (Kember 60), Wormull, Armstrong, Brown, Opinel (Cade 71), Douglas, Clare. Subs not used: Ward, Burton, Ekoku.