The burly striker was released by the Grecians at the end of last season but answered his critics in emphatic style by engineering the first-half breakthrough.
Jake Edwards bulldozed his way past City defender Rob Edwards before eventually teeing up Lee Blackburn, who blasted the ball past Martin Rice.
But the Conference strugglers, who were recently on the brink of going out of business, were denied all three points when Dean Moxey struck with an equaliser after the break.
The Grecians piled on the pressure in the second half but couldn't find a winner and Crawley held out to finally shed the ten-point deduction received at the start of the season.
The visitors started strongly and Jake Edwards had the first sniff of goal when he teased and tormented the Grecians defence before striking the post with a rasping drive.
At the other end Lee Phillips should have put the hosts in front when he latched onto Billy Jones' cross before planting his header wide of the upright.
With chances at either end, Michael Bostwick then forced Rice into a smart stop following a fierce 25-yard drive.
And the visitors piled on the pressure as Jake Edwards met Tony Scully's cross with a header that ballooned over the bar.
The home side were once again holding their heads in their hands when Moxey wasted a glorious opportunity to put his side in front, heading over from six yards.
Blackburn put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes, but Crawley had Ben Hamer's terrific point-blank save from Bertrand Cozic to thank for staying in front until the interval.
The visitors eventually succumbed to a spell of pressure 13 minutes after half-time and Moxey grabbed an equaliser.
Keeper Hamer thwarted the run of Adam Stansfield but his block rebounded into the path of Moxey, whose shot crashed into the net.
City were denied a penalty in the closing stages when Jamie Mackie appeared to be bundled over by Ben Judge, but Crawley held on to claim a point in their battle to climb out of the relegation places.
Jake Edwards bulldozed his way past City defender Rob Edwards before eventually teeing up Lee Blackburn, who blasted the ball past Martin Rice.
But the Conference strugglers, who were recently on the brink of going out of business, were denied all three points when Dean Moxey struck with an equaliser after the break.
The Grecians piled on the pressure in the second half but couldn't find a winner and Crawley held out to finally shed the ten-point deduction received at the start of the season.
The visitors started strongly and Jake Edwards had the first sniff of goal when he teased and tormented the Grecians defence before striking the post with a rasping drive.
At the other end Lee Phillips should have put the hosts in front when he latched onto Billy Jones' cross before planting his header wide of the upright.
With chances at either end, Michael Bostwick then forced Rice into a smart stop following a fierce 25-yard drive.
And the visitors piled on the pressure as Jake Edwards met Tony Scully's cross with a header that ballooned over the bar.
The home side were once again holding their heads in their hands when Moxey wasted a glorious opportunity to put his side in front, heading over from six yards.
Blackburn put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes, but Crawley had Ben Hamer's terrific point-blank save from Bertrand Cozic to thank for staying in front until the interval.
The visitors eventually succumbed to a spell of pressure 13 minutes after half-time and Moxey grabbed an equaliser.
Keeper Hamer thwarted the run of Adam Stansfield but his block rebounded into the path of Moxey, whose shot crashed into the net.
City were denied a penalty in the closing stages when Jamie Mackie appeared to be bundled over by Ben Judge, but Crawley held on to claim a point in their battle to climb out of the relegation places.