DEVASTATED Accrington boss John Coleman was inconsolable after defeat at Crawley put a dent in their Conference play-off hopes.

The Reds first ever visit to the newly-promoted Sussex club ended in disaster as goals in each half snatched another three valuable points from their grasp.

And Coleman now knows that only four wins in their remaining five league games might be enough to see his side sneak into the end of-season lottery.

The Stanley boss said: "We didn't deserve to lose the game, but we didn't take our chances, which is the recipe for disaster.

"They had just two shots on goal and scored twice, so it was a disaster for us and I'm at the lowest I've been in my football career.

"I've never felt as upset as I do right now.

"If we get four wins we will make the play-offs, but it's a big ask."

Coleman rang the changes for a must-win game, making four changes to the side that had been held to a 2-2 draw at home by York City on Easter Monday.

Danny Alcock was preferred in goal in place of Paul Crichton, while Matthew O'Neill, Paul Cook and Gary Roberts all came into the starting line-up, while Stephen Jagielka, Ian Craney and Rory Prendergast were on the bench.

Paul Howarth could have scored from the first chance of the game in only the eighth minute, but instead fired off-target from outside the penalty area.

Stanley were unlucky not to take the lead after 16 minutes when a cross by David Brown was smashed against the underside of the crossbar by O'Neill before being cleared for a corner.

Ten minutes before half-time, it was Crawley's turn to hit the bar -- but this time Simon Wormull's shot rebounded kindly to Steve Burton, who netted on his debut.

Stanley had three more chances to strike back in quick succession - Brown heading over, then blasting another opportunity straight at keeper Andy Little.

Paul Mullin had scored twice against Crawley when they met earlier in the season, but just before half-time could only manage to hit the post after he was set-up by Brown.

Stanley went for broke at the break by replacing O'Neill with McEvilly following the striker's three-match ban.

However it was Crawley who went 2-0 up within nine minutes as former Brighton player Danny Marney jubilantly headed home inside the six-yard box from a cross by Simon Wormull.

McEvilly drove a shot from a free-kick straight into the Crawley defence, then Little held a ball driven in from another free-kick by Howarth.

But at the other end, Alcock twice came out to deny Town attacks, first coolly grabbing the ball from the feet of Marney before he could shoot and racing out of the area to intercept an attack by Wormull.

Crawley vigorously appealed for a handball and were left furious with the referee when he ruled the Stanley stopper had used his chest.

At the other end Little did well to deflect a powerful blast by Mullin over the bar with his feet.

Chris Butler made a timely clearance to deny Crawley's Paul Armstrong from close-range.

Then in added time, substitute Jagielka capped a miserable day by firing over, leaving Stanley fans facing a depressing journey back home knowing their play-off dreams hang in the balance.

CRAWLEY TOWN: Little, Gooding, Opinel, Donovan, Jenkins, Hankin, Armstrong, Wormull, Kember, Marney (Davidson 70), Burton (Tait 76).

Subs not used: Smith, Robinson, Keehan

STANLEY: Alcock, Howarth, Butler, Williams, Flynn (Prendergast 69), O'Neill (McEvilly 46), Proctor, Cook (Jagielka 62), Brown, Mullin, Roberts.

Subs not used: Kennedy, Craney

REFEREE: G Evetts (Hoddesdon)

ATTENDANCE: 1,646