Lee Holmes rescues a point for Exeter

A late goal from substitute Lee Holmes extended high-riding Exeter’s unbeaten league run to nine games with a 1-1 draw at Crawley.

Skipper Filipe Morais had put the hosts on course for a sixth successive home league win before Holmes made his presence felt coming off the bench.

Crawley keeper Glenn Morris was forced to race out of his area in only the second minute to clear at the feet of former Reds loanee Jonathan Forte.

Forte was leading the attack with Matt Jay, leading scorer Jordan Stockley having dropped to the bench due to the effects of a stomach bug.

Unchanged Crawley might have broken the deadlock shortly before the interval, but the unmarked Ollie Palmer failed to connect six yards out with a cross-field pass by Lewis Young.

Exeter keeper Christy Pym saved smartly shortly after the break after Panuthche Camara threatened with a surging run and shot.

Pym was helpless, however, on 61 minutes when playmaker Morais netted his fourth of the season with a well placed shot from 20 yards after being set up by Palmer.

Substitute  Holmes pulled Exeter level 11 minutes from time on the breakaway slotting his first goal of the season passed Morris.

City’s Lee Martin had a shot cleared off the line in the last minute before Pym denied substitute Ashley Nathaniel George at the other end.