Just as a draw seemed the inevitable outcome, Simon Wormill blasted a free-kick from the left in injury time, and Chris Giles put the ball home.
Seconds later Sasha Opinel was sent off for a professional foul.
Crawley had a dream start when Wormull curled a brilliant free-kick over the heads of a Scarborough wall of defenders and gave goalkeeper Leigh Walker no chance.
The visitors stepped up their pressure but Scarborough gradually came more into the game thanks to newcomer Jimmy Beadle and Mark Quayle who had a fine shot on the run well saved.
Kevin Nicholson was unlucky not to equalise with a shot from a well-placed corner which David Woozley cleared off the line.
Michael Coulson, Scarborough's man of the match, was constantly in the hunt and producing somefine chances.
At the other end Daryl Clare soon emerged as Crawley's dangerman, hitting the sidenetting with a shot from the left, and master-minding a chain of other good moves.
Paul Armstrong finished off a well placed cross from Opinel but went just wide of the upright.
Scarborough's Carl Foot almost got the ball into the net in a crowded goalmouth before it was smothered by the keeper, then the Seasiders' determination paid off when they got back into the game right on half-time through Coulson when he tapped the ball into the net after being set up by Beadle.
Scarborough came more into the game after the break through Coulson and Steve Baker, but Crawley's Clare and Wormull worked hard to snatch a winner which eventually came with only seconds to go before the whistle.
Seconds later Sasha Opinel was sent off for a professional foul.
Crawley had a dream start when Wormull curled a brilliant free-kick over the heads of a Scarborough wall of defenders and gave goalkeeper Leigh Walker no chance.
The visitors stepped up their pressure but Scarborough gradually came more into the game thanks to newcomer Jimmy Beadle and Mark Quayle who had a fine shot on the run well saved.
Kevin Nicholson was unlucky not to equalise with a shot from a well-placed corner which David Woozley cleared off the line.
Michael Coulson, Scarborough's man of the match, was constantly in the hunt and producing somefine chances.
At the other end Daryl Clare soon emerged as Crawley's dangerman, hitting the sidenetting with a shot from the left, and master-minding a chain of other good moves.
Paul Armstrong finished off a well placed cross from Opinel but went just wide of the upright.
Scarborough's Carl Foot almost got the ball into the net in a crowded goalmouth before it was smothered by the keeper, then the Seasiders' determination paid off when they got back into the game right on half-time through Coulson when he tapped the ball into the net after being set up by Beadle.
Scarborough came more into the game after the break through Coulson and Steve Baker, but Crawley's Clare and Wormull worked hard to snatch a winner which eventually came with only seconds to go before the whistle.