A Tony Scully strike just before the break and a first goal for the club by substitute Omari Coleman gave the Reds a second league win in 12 games.
Crawley dominated from the start and could have won by a larger margin.
Former Scarborough striker Steve Burton went close early on with a 25-yard drive that was tipped over spectacularly by Ian Dunbavin, before Scully finally made the home side's pressure count three minutes before the interval.
A long throw by Paul Armstrong dropped kindly for the Irishman to lash a volley into the roof of the net from eight yards.
The Seadogs almost levelled against the run of play two minutes into the second half when Chris Hughes had an angled shot deflected into the side-netting by Ben Judge.
But it was a rare moment of concern for the hosts as they overwhelmed the visitors for the rest of the game.
Coleman, who had replaced Gavin Gordon after 20 minutes, headed disappointingly wide just past the hour but made up for his miss on 75 minutes.
Burton and defender Leonard Mendy both had shots blocked in a crowded area following a corner and the former Lincoln striker was on hand to smash home from close range to seal the precious points.
Crawley dominated from the start and could have won by a larger margin.
Former Scarborough striker Steve Burton went close early on with a 25-yard drive that was tipped over spectacularly by Ian Dunbavin, before Scully finally made the home side's pressure count three minutes before the interval.
A long throw by Paul Armstrong dropped kindly for the Irishman to lash a volley into the roof of the net from eight yards.
The Seadogs almost levelled against the run of play two minutes into the second half when Chris Hughes had an angled shot deflected into the side-netting by Ben Judge.
But it was a rare moment of concern for the hosts as they overwhelmed the visitors for the rest of the game.
Coleman, who had replaced Gavin Gordon after 20 minutes, headed disappointingly wide just past the hour but made up for his miss on 75 minutes.
Burton and defender Leonard Mendy both had shots blocked in a crowded area following a corner and the former Lincoln striker was on hand to smash home from close range to seal the precious points.