Crawley fielded a side full of youth team players, trialists and first team players.

Chris Giles, Jamie Stevens, Steve Fletcher and Isiah Rankin have all found starts hard to come by in the Blue Square Premier but got some much needed game time against Bob Booker's ytoung Brighton side on Tuesday.

Left back Sam Rents was also given a game against his former club.

But it was the performance of a youth player that impressed most. George Ellis in the Crawley goal was outstanding in the first half, making a string of fine saves.

The most impressive save was from Scott Chamberlain's close range effort which saw the young shotstopper fly across his goal and tip the ball over the bar.

Unfortunately his good work was undone right at the death when striker Jake Robinson broke through and struck the ball past a helpless Ellis.

And Crawley will feel hard done by in the second half after some impressive performances.

Danny Mills showed why he is so valued by Crawley's new youth team, managed by Colin Jenkinson.

Mills' hard work up front alongside the experience of Steve Fletcher posed the biggest threat to Brighton's backline.

Brighton themselves had a few youth team players on the field. The average age of the defence was 17 but there was still a space for experienced striker Gary Hart who came close for the Seagulls in the second half only to be denied by Ellis in goal.

Crawley's best chance came courtesy of another Crawley Town youth player.

Ronnie McCrae's superb first time side foot volley clipped the top of the crossbar after a run and cross on the left by Anton Douglas.

As the match continued it felt as though Crawley were going to snatch a winner despite an excellent and dominant first half by Brighton.

The young players started to grow in confidence and substitute Nick Carter nearly nicked the winner in the last 10 minutes when his right foot shot from just outside the box crept past the post.

Brighton did have several opportunities to score on the break but their final pass seemed to let them down and when they did get a chance at goal 'keeper Ellis dealt with it.

That was until the 83rd when a one-two between Jake Robinson and Doug Loft put Robinson through in the six yard box and allowed him to finish with ease and win the match.

This is not a competition Steve Evans has been a big fan of but he did admit after the game that was plenty to be positive about.

He said: "There are plenty of positives about tonight's match. If we are honest Brighton to deserved to win on their chances in the first half but it was a good experience for some of our young players and we gave a run out to our first team players who need game time.

"Chris Giles, Jamie Stevens, Isaiah Rankin and Steve Fletcher all got the game time that we planned for them and all came out unscathed.

"Fans also came away asking about our youth team goalkeeper George Ellis who had a great game tonight."

Crawley Town Under-19s next match is at home to Woking Reds on Wednesday (October 1) at 2pm.

The first team have a huge game away to Burton Albion on the weekend.

Visit the website tomorrow for reaction to tonight's match and pick up a Crawley Times on Friday for a full preview of Saturday's game.

Crawley Town XI v Brighton and Hove Albion

REDS: Ellis, Dark, Rents (O'Neil 65), Stevens, Giles (c), Thomas, Rankin (Nayee 45), McCrae, Mills, Fletcher (Carter 76), Douglas
Subs: Luke-Edwards, Jones

BRIGHTON:Sullivan, Wills, Royce, Dunk, Cook, Chamberlain, Cox, Loft, Robinson Hart (c), Compton
Subs: Ide, Wacker, Upton, Rowe, Brencher

Goals: Jake Robinson 93

Attendance: 1,115 (64)
MOM: George Ellis
Referee: David Phillips

Full-time: Crawley Town 0 Brighton 1

93 mins GOAL! (Brighton) - Jake Robinson nets after a one-two with Doug Loft.

88 mins - Chris Giles smashes a free-kick two yards over the bar from 25 yards.

86 mins - Nick Carter's stunning right foot struck from just outside the box flies just wide of the post.

85 mins - Gary Hart found his way through the Crawley defence but his left foot let him down.

77 mins SUB Nick Carter replaces Steve Fletcher

76 mins - Gary Hart breaks through on goal but Georhe Ellis gets a touch to knock the ball wide.

70 mins - Crawley are growin g in confidence. Danny Mills and Ronnie McCrae look ever more dangerous for the Reds.

65 mins SUB Sam Rents replaced by Brannan O'Neil.

64 mins - Nayee chips the ball at goal from the left but the 'keeper makes an easy catch.

57 mins - Crawley's best chance of the game. Ronnie McCrae's side foot volley clips the top of the crossbar after a great run and cross by Anton Douglas down the left.

54 subs - Gary Hart has a half chance at a header but it goes over.

45 mins SUB (Crawley) Isaiah Rankin replaced by Mithun Nayee

Second half: Crawley Town 0 Brighton 0

42 mins - Ronnie McCrae picks the ball up and hots a long range effort just over the bar.

39 mins - Dean Cox whipped the ball in from the right, Hart missed the header and Compton's shot from the left went miles wide.

31 mins - Fletcher's head down is fumbled by the advancing Sullivan in the Brighton goal but Thomas can't convert the rebound.

27 mins - Brighton carve Crawley open and Robinson ends up with acres of space to pick his spot but his shot goes wide of the post.

26 mins - Robinson's pace down the right channel causes problems again but Crawley manage to scramble the ball away.

25 mins - A good flick on at the near post by 6ft2in Steve Fletcher but Brighton clear their lines well.

22 mins - The first real chance of the game and it prduces a stunning save from young 'keeper George Ellis. He flew across his goal to tip a shot over the bar from Scott Chamberlain after Jake Robinson had squared the ball.

19 mins - There's a good crowd at the Broadfield Stadium with the main stand nearly completely full.

12 mins - It's an even match so far with not a lot in the way of chances.

1 min - The match is underway at the Broadfield with the Reds fielding quite a strong starting line-up.