Dannie Bulman’s 50th minute strike condemned Gillingham to back-to-back home defeats at Priestfield on Tuesday night.
In a game Gillingham could ill afford to lose, Crawley outplayed them over the ninety minutes, despite the home side giving it their all late on.
The game itself started with a distinct atmosphere with the home fans determined to vent their anger at Crawley boss Steve Evans who had been less than complimentary about The Gills after the Boxing Day meeting between the two sides.
Andy Hessenthaler had kept faith with the same side that had beaten Cheltenham Town 3-0 on Saturday with Dennis Oli passing a late fitness test to lead the line.
After a minute’s applause for Fabrice Muamba and with the managers shaking hands, Kyle McFazdean had the game’s first chance, but headed well over, whilst at the other end Michel Kuipers clawed Jordan Obita’s free kick around the post.
Crawley continued to press forward and McFazdean saw his header come back off the bar from a corner and Olly Lee was in the right place for Gillingham to clear when Gary Alexander looked to stab the ball home.
Alexander was lucky to stay on the pitch when two crude challenges on Gills defender Connor Essam left the youngster bloodied and battered, but the Crawley man escaped with just a yellow card.
Crawley’s goal came just five minutes after the break when Bulman was released down the inside left channel by on loan striker Leon Clarke and he made no mistake angling the ball past Paulo Gazzaniga at his near post.
The goal stunned The Gills and despite a succession of substitutions throughout the second period, they never really threatened the Crawley goal on a consistant basis and it took until the final few minutes to really threaten.
Danny Kedwell looked to have levelled in the 90th minute with a great header, but Dean Howell was in the right place at the right time to deny the striker and The Gills.
FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 0-1 CRAWLEY TOWN
Tuesday night’s defeat sees The Gills drop to ninth in League Two, four points behind Oxford United in the last play-off place with a visit to Bradford City to come on Saturday.
Gillingham line up: Gazzaniga, Fish, Essam, King, Jackman, Whelpdale, J Payne, O Lee (Kuffour 55), Obita (Martin 79), Oli (Miller 71), Kedwell.
Subs not used: Hawkes, Frampton.
Booked: Obita (75).
Crawley line up: Kuipers, Davies, Howell, Mills, McFadzean, Torres, Simpson, Bulman, Akpan, Clarke, Alexander.
Subs not used: Clarke, Watt, Batt, Cummings, Neilson.
Goal: Bulman (50).
Booked: Alexander (37), Kuipers (59).
Referee: Mr Mark Heywood
Assts: Mr Gavin Muge & Mr Adrian Sannerude
Attendance: 5,204 (322 Crawley)