Crawley crashed out of the JP Trophy as they let a two-goal lead slip to go down 3-2 at home against Newport County.

Reds looked to be cruising into the third round after goals from Emile Sinclair and Mike Jones had put them in complete control in the first half.

Newport pulled a goal back just before half-time through Chris Zebroski and the game turned the visitors’ way straight after the interval when James Hurst was sent off and Adam Chapman equalised from the penalty spot.

The League Two side completed their comeback in the 61st minute when Robbie Willmott’s cross deflected in off Connor Essam.

It meant Crawley’s six-match unbeaten run came to an end and Reds have now been knocked out of two cup competitions this season by League Two opposition having lost to Cheltenham in the Capital One Cup.

Boss Richie Barker made the maximum permitted number of changes to the side which drew 1-1 at Sheffield United in their previous league game last Friday.

And it was one of the five players brought into the side who was credited with the opening goal after 13 minutes – although there was a strong suspicion it came off a defender.

Jamie Stephens initially made a good save to deny Nicky Adams after he had been set up by Sergio Torres – making his first start of the season – but when James Hurst whipped a low cross back into the box it was forced over the line as Emile Sinclair and Tony James went for the ball.

If there was a doubt about who got the first goal there was no confusion over the identity of the scorer of the second.

A poor clearance by Stephens left him stranded outside his area and Mike Jones spotted the chance to send a shot soaring over his head from inside his own half and into the unguarded net.

It was a goal worthy of gracing any stage and the only shame was that there were not more people inside the Checkatrade.com Stadium to witness it.

Crawley seemed to take their foot off the pedal after getting a stranglehold on the game and allowed Newport to come back into the contest.

Danny Crow shot just wide from 12 yards after a clever step-over by Mike Flynn and then substitute Adam Chapman drilled an effort past the upright from the edge of the box.

The visitors got the goal they deserved just before the interval when Flynn outmuscled Mark Connolly to get to the byline before cutting the ball back from Zebroski to tap in from close range.

A poor end to the first half was compounded by a disastrous start to the second. Hurst didn’t get enough power on his attempted header back to Paul Jones and then pulled Crow back as he threatened to punish the mistake.

Referee Andy Laver – who had replaced the injured Rob Lewis in the first half – had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and had no option but to show Hurst the red card.

Chapman stepped up to drill the spot-kick straight down the middle to put Newport on level terms and with their numerical advantage they went in search of a third.

It arrived in the 61st minute and was another one for the dubious goals panel to investigate. Robbie Willmott drove over a low cross from the left which Essam attempted to cut out at the near post only to deflect it past Paul Jones.

Willmott had a great chance to make sure his name was on the scoresheet and put the game beyond Crawley almost straight away. He burst through down the middle but his shot was straight at Jones who saved well with his legs.

Barker responded by bringing on Andy Drury, Dannie Bulman and Gary Alexander for Sinclair, Torres and Mike Jones.

The substitutions changed the momentum back in Crawley’s favour with Stephens having to make smart stops to deny Mark Connolly and Proctor while a goalbound shot from Alexander was deflected over the bar by a desperate sliding challenge from Tom Naylor.