Exeter City fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Crawley Town in Sky Bet League Two.

Despite Dean Moxey putting the Grecians ahead in the first half, a leveller from Josh Payne and two goals from substitute Jordan Roberts secured the win for Harry Kewell’s side on a disappointing night for City.

Paul Tisdale made three changes to the side that were narrowly beaten by Chesterfield last weekend as Lloyd James, Kyle Edwards and Reuben Reid all came into the starting line up in place of Lee Holmes, Jayden Stockley and Liam McAlinden.

An entertaining first half saw the home side begin well as they created a number of early chances with Josh Payne doing well to conduct things for Town.

Their first real attempt at goal came on ten minutes when Payne started off a good move before arriving at the edge of the Grecians’ box to shoot wide under pressure from the City defence.

Christy Pym was then forced into a smart save from Payne down low, after Pierce Sweeney did well to block from Enzio Boldewijn.

The Grecians’ first opportunity came after 17 minutes after the lively Kyle Edwards did well to cut in from the right to fire in a low cross, which took two deflections, before Glenn Norris pounced on the ball before Jake Taylor could poke home.

City then took the lead on 24 minutes stemming from more good play from Edwards on the right. The winger did well to cross low towards Reuben Reid, whose shot was going just wide, but for Moxey who slid in at the far post to give City the advantage.

With the home side more than likely feeling slightly aggrieved after creating the majority of the chances, they were awarded a penalty just after the half hour mark when Craig Woodman was penalised for a foul in the box on Josh Yorwerth as the home side attacked a corner kick.

Payne then stepped up to coolly convert the spot kick past Pym to level the match. More half chances fell for City as the busy Reid looked to burst through the defence on the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked well for a City corner meaning the sides would go into the break level.

The early stages of the second half began cagey with neither side creating many clear cut chances in the opening minutes.

But it was the home side who took the initiative on the hour mark when a quick move on the left side saw Cedric Evina shoot at goal, but Pym’s save could only fall into the path of substitute Roberts who fired in at the far post.

City then looked to the substitutes bench as Jayden Stockley and Kane Wilson entered the match as Paul Tisdales side searched for a way back.

The home side then secured their third, and Roberts’ second, when the Town number 11 stepped up to place a free-kick past Pym from a tight angle to give Kewell’s side a comfortable lead.

City kept pushing, but credit to the home side who defended well and kept possession for long spells late on.

The Grecians will now look to bounce back from consecutive defeats against Accrington Stanley at St James Park on Saturday.

Crawley Town: Morris, Young, Payne, Connolly, Boldewijn (Lewis, 80) Yorwerth, Evina, Bulman, Verheydt (Roberts, 54), Randall (Meite, 77), Camara

Subs not used: Mersin, Doherty, McNerney, Lelan

Booked: Payne

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, Woodman (McAlinden, 45), James, Moore-Taylor, Moxey, Taylor, Edwards, Reid, Brown (Wilson, 72), Boateng (Stockley, 65)

Subs not used: Hamon, Archibald-Henville, Jay, Byrne

Booked: Taylor, Woodman, Brown, Moxey, Reid

Attendance: 1,580 (Inc, 321, away)