Crawley Town 3-1 Northampton
- Published
Crawley climbed back into the automatic promotion places in League Two with a comfortable victory over Northampton.
Scott Neilson struck from 25 yards to give the hosts the lead before Billy Clarke headed home from Scott Davies' cross to make it 2-0.
Keeper Neal Kitson turned the ball into his own net to give Crawley a three-goal cushion before the break.
Brett Williams then slotted in from close range to pull one back for the Cobblers but it was a mere consolation.
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Crawley caretaker manager Craig Brewster told BBC Sussex:
Crawley points may be key - Brewster
"We knew that was the case, that if we won tonight we went into third position.
"I think psychologically that could be a big lift for us. I thought the performance first half was excellent. Second half we got a bit sloppy and let them back into it. But at the end of the day, three big points for us.
"Scott Neilson, what a goal, what a strike. And he could have had three in about two minutes. We never punished them like we could have."
Boothroyd rues 'daft' goals in loss
Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd tells BBC Radio Northampton:
"It was a really strange game. We conceded three really poor goals and then we've hit the crossbar and there's been a possible penalty.
"In the second half, we hit the post, we scored a goal and Toni Silva has hit the cross-bar. It was a bit like Bradford, but not as bad as that, yet still we've conceded daft goals.
"I won't be pointing fingers at Neal Kitson because he's saved two penalties and played really well (this season). It wasn't all about him.
"I'm not going to get too upset. I'm disappointed that people have come all this way to watch us, and we appreciate that. But when we've got good players and our main starters out of the team, it does make a big difference to us."