Grays Athletic 0, Crawley 0 Crawley can secure their Conference safety with victory at Halifax on Tuesday after battling out a goalless stalemate at fellow strugglers Grays.

Reds remain three points clear of the danger zone with two games remaining.

Halifax are entrenched in the mire and desperately need a win after losing 2-0 against Forest Green.

Caretaker manager Ben Judge said: "We are pleased with the point because it keeps Grays below us.

"We did well in the first half and had to battle in the second but overall it was a good performance.

"Halifax will be another tough game but we will go there confident after the way we played."

Reds made their attacking intent clear from the start as they began the game with an adventurous 4-3-3 formation.

Tony Scully started in the three-pronged attack alongside Marcus Richardson and Scott Rendell, who made his first start for five games in place of Elliot Benyon.

The gamble appeared as if it would be vindicated in the opening stages as Crawley dominated and created numerous chances to score.

Skipper Dannie Bulman had the first after 13 minutes when he fired a 25-yard drive wide.

Richardson then headed past a post from a corner before Rendell blasted straight at keeper Danny Knowles from an angle after being teed up by Bulman.

Rendell's chance came just after he had appeared to be tripped in the box by defender Anthony Barness but, despite strong appeals for a penalty from the noisy travelling fans, the referee waved play on.

Grays did not come alive until 24 minutes when Dennis Oli stole into the box unseen to prod past the onrushing Ben Hamer and, luckily for Reds, also the left hand upright.

The opportunity sparked a spell of pressure from the home side and they threatened again soon after when Alex Rhodes drilled a fizzing shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Grays' striker Aaron O'Connor was proving a handful for the Crawley defence and he twice went close before the break.

His shot on the turn was beaten out by Hamer, then he fired straight at the visiting stopper from 12 yards.

Reds had the final chance of the first half when Dave Woozley headed over the top from Scully's corner.

The visitors were given two big let-offs early in the second half as Grays increasingly controlled the game.

Oli's cross from the right ten minutes after the restart found Rhodes all alone at the back post six yards from goal but the young winger had carelessly strayed offside.

John Martin timed his run better moments later when he beat the offside trap to go clear on goal but he snatched at his finish and scuffed it wide.

Reds made their first change just after the hour in a bid to improve their attacking options, with Benyon replacing the ineffective Richardson.

But they almost found themselves behind a minute later when O'Connor hooked over from close range after Jamie Stuart nodded down a corner by Stuart Thurgood.

Crawley's second substitution came soon after when Jack Obersteller came on for Ben Judge to make his first appearance since joining on work experience from Millwall last month.

Lloyd Blackman then replaced Rendell for the final 15 minutes.

Grays went closest to taking the points in the final stages when Thurgood's long range free-kick was tipped over by Hamer.