Just two days after the Broadfield outfit was given a last-minute reprieve from liquidation, striker Ben Strevens forced a winner in the second half to give the Reds three points on the opening day of the Conference season.
It takes Crawley to minus seven points after they were deducted ten as a punishment for going into administration.
The game was only given the go-ahead 48 hours before kick-off due to Crawley's off-field problems. But despite the short notice, Crawley manager John Hollins named an impressive line-up, who were playing on non-contract terms due to the club's precarious financial position.
Established Conference players Scott Hiley, Strevens and Jake Edwards made their debuts alongside five of last season's squad, Tony Scully, Dave Woozley, Lee Blackburn, Danny Brown and Ben Judge.
Hollins also brought in keeper Ben Hamer on work experience from Reading and midfielder Michael Bostwick on a month's loan from Millwall. Bostwick partnered former Rushden man Gary Mills in the centre of midfield.
The visitors also had a new-look side with seven players making their debuts. They took time to gel in the first half as Crawley made a lively start.
The home side almost went ahead after five minutes when Scully headed on to the top of the crossbar following a good run and cross from Edwards. Strevens then saw his deflected drive from the edge of the box flash just wide on 27 minutes.
Rushden responded by twice going close in quick succession, Michael Rankine, partnering fellow new signing Leo Fortune-West up front, nodded over from close range from a Marcus Kelly cross, before Wayne Hatswell then had a powerful low shot cleared off the line by Blackburn.
Edwards missed a golden opportunity to put Crawley ahead on the stroke of half-time when his attempted chip was saved by keeper Nicky Eyre after he had run clear of the defence.
Diamonds should have broken the deadlock early in the second half following a corner by Kelly. The ball fell to Hatswell, unmarked two yards from goal, but he was taken by surprise and the ball bounced off him to safety.
Crawley took the lead against the run of play on 62 minutes thanks to a goalkeeping mistake. Eyre played a one-two with Hatswell from a goal kick, before attempting to punt up field, but his clearance hit Strevens, who was closing the keeper down and bounced into the net.
Hamer ensured the win for Crawley with two stunning stops in the last 11 minutes when he saved with his legs after substitute Tyrone Berry beat the offside trap to meet a cross from Kelly with a powerful header, before diving low to parry a curling free-kick from Watson in the dying stages.
It takes Crawley to minus seven points after they were deducted ten as a punishment for going into administration.
The game was only given the go-ahead 48 hours before kick-off due to Crawley's off-field problems. But despite the short notice, Crawley manager John Hollins named an impressive line-up, who were playing on non-contract terms due to the club's precarious financial position.
Established Conference players Scott Hiley, Strevens and Jake Edwards made their debuts alongside five of last season's squad, Tony Scully, Dave Woozley, Lee Blackburn, Danny Brown and Ben Judge.
Hollins also brought in keeper Ben Hamer on work experience from Reading and midfielder Michael Bostwick on a month's loan from Millwall. Bostwick partnered former Rushden man Gary Mills in the centre of midfield.
The visitors also had a new-look side with seven players making their debuts. They took time to gel in the first half as Crawley made a lively start.
The home side almost went ahead after five minutes when Scully headed on to the top of the crossbar following a good run and cross from Edwards. Strevens then saw his deflected drive from the edge of the box flash just wide on 27 minutes.
Rushden responded by twice going close in quick succession, Michael Rankine, partnering fellow new signing Leo Fortune-West up front, nodded over from close range from a Marcus Kelly cross, before Wayne Hatswell then had a powerful low shot cleared off the line by Blackburn.
Edwards missed a golden opportunity to put Crawley ahead on the stroke of half-time when his attempted chip was saved by keeper Nicky Eyre after he had run clear of the defence.
Diamonds should have broken the deadlock early in the second half following a corner by Kelly. The ball fell to Hatswell, unmarked two yards from goal, but he was taken by surprise and the ball bounced off him to safety.
Crawley took the lead against the run of play on 62 minutes thanks to a goalkeeping mistake. Eyre played a one-two with Hatswell from a goal kick, before attempting to punt up field, but his clearance hit Strevens, who was closing the keeper down and bounced into the net.
Hamer ensured the win for Crawley with two stunning stops in the last 11 minutes when he saved with his legs after substitute Tyrone Berry beat the offside trap to meet a cross from Kelly with a powerful header, before diving low to parry a curling free-kick from Watson in the dying stages.