York went into the game hoping to build on a 100 per cent away record but were dealt a huge blow after just 17 minutes when goalkeeper Tom Evans was given his marching orders.
The home side took full advantage of the extra man as goals from Jake Edwards, Dannie Bulman and Lee Blackburn ended a run of four games without a win.
The visitors had started brightly with Crawley goalkeeper Ben Hamer being called on to deny Martyn Woolford and Craig Farrell inside the opening ten minutes.
But the game turned when referee Darren Sheldrake had no option but to send Evans off after he had blatantly brought Bulman down on the edge of the area when clean through.
York boss was forced to reshuffle with 19-year-old substitute goalkeeper Aaron Reid coming on for his debut in place of Woolford.
Reid was picking the ball out of his net six minutes later when the lively Ben Strevens cut the ball back for strike partner Edwards to score with a clever back-heel from five yards.
The goal lifted a Crawley side who went into the game on zero points after being given a ten-point deduction for going into administration and Scott Hiley came close to doubling the lead when he fired over from 20 yards.
York were still looking dangerous on the break, though, and Neal Bishop had the ball in the back of the net, but the referee infuriated the Minstermen when he ruled his header out for a push on Hiley.
The visitors continued to press after the interval but as they committed men forward they left gaps at the back which Crawley exposed with two goals in three minutes.
Bulman grabbed the first after 59 minutes to cap a superb full debut after good work by Strevens to put Edwards away down the right. Edwards curled an inviting low ball across the face of goal and, although Reid cut it out, his punch went straight to Bulman who buried the loose ball.
Three minutes later the game was all but over as Edwards turned provider again with an inch-perfect cross which gave the Blackburn the simplest of headers at the back post.
The home side took full advantage of the extra man as goals from Jake Edwards, Dannie Bulman and Lee Blackburn ended a run of four games without a win.
The visitors had started brightly with Crawley goalkeeper Ben Hamer being called on to deny Martyn Woolford and Craig Farrell inside the opening ten minutes.
But the game turned when referee Darren Sheldrake had no option but to send Evans off after he had blatantly brought Bulman down on the edge of the area when clean through.
York boss was forced to reshuffle with 19-year-old substitute goalkeeper Aaron Reid coming on for his debut in place of Woolford.
Reid was picking the ball out of his net six minutes later when the lively Ben Strevens cut the ball back for strike partner Edwards to score with a clever back-heel from five yards.
The goal lifted a Crawley side who went into the game on zero points after being given a ten-point deduction for going into administration and Scott Hiley came close to doubling the lead when he fired over from 20 yards.
York were still looking dangerous on the break, though, and Neal Bishop had the ball in the back of the net, but the referee infuriated the Minstermen when he ruled his header out for a push on Hiley.
The visitors continued to press after the interval but as they committed men forward they left gaps at the back which Crawley exposed with two goals in three minutes.
Bulman grabbed the first after 59 minutes to cap a superb full debut after good work by Strevens to put Edwards away down the right. Edwards curled an inviting low ball across the face of goal and, although Reid cut it out, his punch went straight to Bulman who buried the loose ball.
Three minutes later the game was all but over as Edwards turned provider again with an inch-perfect cross which gave the Blackburn the simplest of headers at the back post.