GRAYS succumbed to a late blow and 2-1 defeat at Crawley in a Blue Square Premier clash that had a dramatic finish.

The Blues had hauled themselves level through substitute Jeff Goulding's 84th minute goal but then lost Jon Ashton, sent off for a foul on Jamie Cook and the Crawley man doubled the pain by firing home an 87th minute winner.

Crawley made the ideal start to the second half when Mustapha Carayol produced a thunderous finish after a quick break on the right from Cook In the 83rd Blues substitute Neil McCafferty produced some clever play from outside the box, passing to the third replacement Scott Taylor and he in turn conjured up a back-heel into the path of Goulding who fired home.

Grays dithered after scoring and in the 85th minute Cook was clear and Ashton cynically brought him down, to get a red card.

It proved a foul in vain as Cook got up and smashed the free kick home for the winner.