Crawley ease past Fleetwood after Zech Medley’s early red card

Goals in each half from Louis Flower and Harry Forster made it back-to-back home wins for Crawley for the first time since the end of last season.

Fleetwood battled for 80 minutes with 10 men after the early sending-off of Zech Medley, and James Bolton’s late goal was not enough to save them from a fourth defeat in their last five away games.

Fleetwood defender Medley picked up two early yellow cards for fouls to leave his side up against it almost from the outset.

Reece Brown had a shot parried by recalled keeper Jay Lynch before Crawley broke the deadlock from a fast break in the 38th minute, Josh Flint surging through to set up striker Flower who shot home from close range.

Fleetwood came close to levelling when Ched Evans put a cross from Ethan Ennis over the bar shortly after the break.

But substitute Harry Forster doubled Crawley’s lead on 65 minutes by rifling in a beauty from the edge of the area, before Bolton rifled home at the other end after Crawley failed to clear a throw-in 12 minutes from time.

Crawley, who thrashed Bristol Rovers 4-0 in their previous league outing, nearly added a third when Forster had a shot tipped over by Lynch late on.