Crawley boss Steve Evans saluted striker Charlie Ademeno after he scored a hat-trick in just over four minutes to sink Grays in the Blue Square premier today.
Ademeno struck in the first six minutes at the New Rec as Reds won 3-2, their third successive away win.
Evans said: "Charlie is a special talent. I said that when I signed him in July and he showed it today.
"He produced three clinical finishes and could have scored one or two more goals as well. He should have had a penalty as well - the decision not to give him was frightening."
Ademeno turned in Calum Willock's cross for his second-minute opener before rounding goalkeeper Preston Edwards to make it 2-0.
He poached his hat-trick goal four minutes and 12 seconds since his opener after Willock's header had been pushed out by Edwards.
Grays pulled two goals back before half-time through Jake Reid's penalty and a powerful header from the impressive Fola Onibuje.
Evans added: "Grays showed a lot of character and we had some defending to do in the second half but we showed some resillience and it was a good three points."
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