Stevenage Borough 0 - 1 Crawley Town: Matt Harrold's solitary strike sinks struggling Stevenage

Matt Harrold's first-half strike was enough for Crawley to secure a first away victory since October and heap more misery on struggling Stevenage.

Harrold fired the Reds ahead a minute before the break after Roarie Deacon found space on the left and centred for the striker to net his sixth goal of the season.

Gwion Edwards had earlier wasted Crawley's best chance when he struck Bobson Bawling's cut-back straight at Jamie Jones, while Pat Hoban's first-time shot forced Paul Jones into a smart save at the other end.

Both teams almost grabbed goals in the first two minutes of the second half as Edwards nodded a close-range header wide before Jon Ashton turned Ronnie Henry's drilled cross from the right inches past his own post.

The home side saw the lion's share of the ball in the second period, but genuine opportunities were at a premium.

Tom Pett blasted their most promising opening off-target when unmarked inside the box and Charlie Lee's near-post flick from a corner was parried by Jones as Crawley held on to leave Stevenage winless in nine matches.