Gillingham made it four games unbeaten and three wins from those four as they battled for three points at a packed Priestfield on Saturday.
Neil Harris’ side showed the grit and determination they will need to ground out the necesssary results to climb out of the League Two relegation zone.
Crawley picked up from where they left off in last week’s victory over Salford, as Tom Fellows almost put them in front within 30 seconds when unmarked at the back post.
Newly-appointed Town captain Ben Gladwin rounded Glenn Morris before the ex-Crawley goalkeeper made an excellent recovery save, then Ludwig Francillette fired over from the resulting corner.
Gillingham’s best chance of the opening half saw Tom Nichols brilliantly play in Dom Jefferies, but the young midfielder scuffed his shot.
The hosts went ahead three minutes after half-time, as Williams fired home his first goal for the Kent side after Crawley’s Corey Addai had brilliantly denied Nichols.
Addai kept his side in the game as he produced another excellent fingertip save to deny Nichols approaching the hour.
Timothee Dieng and Conor Masterson also had chances to double the advantage, but Neil Harris’ side had done enough to secure their third win from four.
Despite the three points and having taken ten from a possible twelve, The Gills remain in the bottom two, but have given their chances of survival a huge boost.
In fact, they are now the form team in League Two and when they head to Mansfield Town on Saturday, they will go full of confidence and hope.
Both Hawkins, who picked up a knock in this game, and Lasplie will face their former side just weeks having left for Kent.
Three more points for Gillingham and their fate could well be very much back in their own hands.
Gillingham line up: Morris, McKenzie, Ehmer, Masterson, Tutonda, Williams, MacDonald (Lapslie 86), Jefferies, Dieng, Nichols (Abrahams 90), Hawkins (O’Brien 62).
Subs not used: Turner, Alexander, Wright, Gbode.
Goal: Williams (48).
Crawley Town line up: Addai, Gordon (Johnson 96), Conroy, Francillette, Powell (Roles 80), Gladwin, Oteh (Nadesan 62), Tsaroulla, Jenks, Fellows, Telford.
Subs not used: Schofield, Ransom, Khaleel, Ogungbo.
Referee: Lewis Smith
Attendance: 9317 (840 Crawley)
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.