Crawley got the win that may well have saved manager Francis Vines' job last night.

Reds picked up three points for only the second time this season against Kidderminster Harriers at the Broadfield Stadium thanks to a Daryl Burgess own goal and a late strike by Jamie Cade.

Victory was a massive relief for Vines, who appeared on the brink of getting fired before the game following a disastrous start to the campaign.

He now wants to make sure it is not just a stay of execution and has urged his struggling side to build on the result.

He said: "It was ugly and we ground it out but that is what we needed. We are not playing with confidence at the moment so we have to get results any way we can.

"It will be no good if we go on and lose on Saturday. We need to make sure we keep a clean sheet and get another win so we can progress from there."

It took just two minutes for the pressure to ease on Vines as Reds were handed the lead by Burgess.

The defender stretched ahead of Daryl Clare in an attempt to clear a cross from Andy Lindegaard and diverted the ball past his hapless keeper John Dandy from the edge of the six-yard box.

The goal was no more than Crawley deserved after a bright opening spell.

Cade almost doubled the advantage just past the half-hour with a rising long-range shot which flew just over after Paul Armstrong's cross was half cleared by the Harriers' defence.

Vines handed one-time Luton Town goalkeeper Scott Ward his first league start after losing patience with Phil Smith, whose mistakes had cost Reds goals in each of their previous three games.

Point-blank The decision was justified on 34 minutes when Ward blocked a shot from Michael Blackwood at point-blank with his legs after the visiting striker was left all alone in the penalty box.

Ward then did well to get down low to his right to stop a fierce 20-yard drive by Blackwood just before half-time.

Kidderminster dominated the early stages of the second half and went close to an equaliser when Iyseden Christie turned away from Ian Simpemba to go clear on goal. Covering defender Ben Judge failed to get a touch on the ball with his challenge but it was enough to knock Christie off his stride which allowed Ward to smother.

Reds were given another warning moments later when Blackwood curled a free kick from the angle of the area just past an upright.

Crawley suffered an injury blow on 62 minutes when influential midfielder Simon Wormull was forced off with a back injury and was replaced by Lee Blackburn.

Lindegaard wasted a good opportunity soon after when he headed high over from close range after being picked out by a floating cross from Clare.

Cade secured the vital win eight minutes from time when he outpaced Mark Jackson to a long ball over the top and fired through the legs of Dandy.

The visitors were reduced to ten men a minute later when Kerry Fleming was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Victory lifted the Reds to fourth from bottom in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to Altrincham, who suffered a 2-0 reverse away to Halifax last night to leave them just two places clear of Crawley in the table.

l Crawley have cancelled the contract of midfielder Lee Elam by mutual consent.

Elam struggled with injury and form after signing in the summer for Morecambe.

Director of football Steve Duly said: "I am sorry to see Lee depart after such a short time. He is understandably frustrated by the current situation and he leaves the club with our best wishes for the future."