Manager Alan Lewer brought James Coutts, Sam Cutler, Jake Hyde and Callum Hart into his side to face the Red Devils.

However, he did lose the suspended Cameron Mawer and Jordan Collins – who, although named as a substitute, was carrying an injury from last week’s game at York City.

In the home line up were ex-Terras Santos Gaia and Michael Malcolm but former skipper Simon Weatherstone was left out of the Crawley squad.

Within the first moments the hosts showed their attacking intent as a long clearance from keeper Simon Rayner found Robbie Matthews, but his effort was blocked and Gavin Hoyte – having been deceived by another long clearance – did well to recover and rob Jon Shaw.

From the resulting corner, taken by Malcolm, it was Santos Gaia who climbed highest to bury his header into the Terras’ net in the sixth minute.

Visiting keeper Simon Evans was called upon to make the first of several good stops in the 11th minute after another Malcolm corner was met well by Thomas Pinault.

Weymouth levelled the scores in the 17th minute when Jordan Vincent’s throw-in was played back to him by Kwesi Appiah. Vincent’s cross from the right seemed to present no problems for Rayner, but the home keeper made a complete mess of his attempted punch leaving the ball to curl into the empty net.

Stung into action the home side scored twice in a three-minute spell – firstly Malcolm showed a clean pair of heels to Vincent before firing in a cross which Danny Bulman slid home in the 25th minute.

Three minutes later Hoyte was penalised for a foul on Shaw and Sam Rents stepped up to fire the free-kick around the defensive wall and past Evans.

Weymouth were under pressure, Evans saving well from Matthews and Rents, before the Terras scored their second after 38 minutes.

Stephen Reed was fouled close to the right corner flag and took the free-kick himself. Santos Gaia’s clearance providing Weymouth’s first corner. Coutts took the kick which completely deceived Rayner who could only help it into the net.

Evans had to save from Matthews and Shaw, but half-time arrived without an addition to the score.

Within seconds of the second half the Terras had a let off as Pinault’s cross found Shaw unmarked, but the home striker headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Malcolm’s shot was deflected for a corner, an effort from Matthews was held by Evans before the Terras mounted their first raid of the second half into home territory on 51 minutes.

Coutts combined well with Billy Crook to find Appiah and the on-loan Peterborough man cut inside before firing in a shot which Santos Gaia was happy to divert for a corner.

The kick was easily cleared by the home defence to Matthews whose shot deflected off Vincent for a corner.

Malcolm, architect of so much for the home side, took the kick quickly to Danny Forrest who, in turn, found Shaw. However, Evans was up to the task and saved the Crawley man’s effort.

In the 59th minute Appiah was harshly penalised after he had clearly won the ball in a tackle with Shaw, the referee giving a free-kick 35 yards out.

After Reed had been cautioned for querying Mr Hopkins’ decision Malcolm sent the kick well over the crossbar.

Rayner was called upon to produce a decent save from Crook after Hyde and Cutler had combined well. When the Crawley man cleared the ball quickly upfield Malcolm was on hand to fire in a fierce shot, which Evans did well to touch over the bar.

Lewis Killeen put the match beyond Weymouth’s reach in the 79th minute after a four-man Crawley build-up had finished with Malcolm putting the substitute through on goal.

Despite the scoreline the visitors could take something from this game as they never gave up chasing and harrying a decent Crawley outfit and had regained their composure after conceding an early goal.