Colchester United 2 : 3 Crawley Town - McLeod makes U's pay penalty

Izale McLeod's late penalty secured Crawley a crucial 3-2 victory at relegation rivals Colchester.

McLeod converted a second-half penalty to seal three points for his side, who leapfrogged Colchester in the table.

Crawley nearly took an early lead when McLeod's shot hit the outside of the post with only Sam Walker to beat.

But Colchester scored in the10th minute when Sammie Szmodics burst into the area and hit a superb shot past Crawley goalkeeper Lewis Price, after the visitors had failed to clear their lines.

But Crawley equalised four minutes later when former Colchester defender Ryan Dickson tapped home Lewis Young's low cross.

Anthony Wordsworth hit the crossbar for the visitors, while at the other end Price tipped over Szmodics' fine shot.

Crawley went ahead four minutes before half-time through Gavin Tomlin, who swept home through a crowd of players following Young's cross.

But Colchester equalised four minutes after half-time when David Fox's free-kick sailed past Price at his near post.

Tomlin nodded wide before McLeod struck the winner from the spot with 15 minutes remaining after being brought down by Walker in the area, as Crawley claimed a vital win.