Crawley Town's promotion - in pictures

Only five years ago Crawley Town were an hour away from liquidation but on Saturday they found themselves within a victory of earning a place in the Football League Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

The Red Devils have never before played in the Football League but having splurged more than a quarter of a million pounds on players – an astronomical sum for a non-league outfit – expectations have been high this season Photograph: Paul Roberts/Offside

Chances come and go ... Photograph: Paul Roberts/Offside

... before Crawley striker Matt Tubbs (in white) heads the opening goal of the game Photograph: Paul Roberts/Offside

The £70,000 striker, who has played League football with Bournemouth, had scored 28 goals in 32 league games prior to this fixture Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Tubbs then bagged a penalty to put Crawley 2-0 up ... Photograph: Paul Roberts/Offside

Much to the delight of the Crawley fans Photograph: Paul Roberts/Offside

Charlie Wassmer heads a third goal to seal promotion for Steve Evans's side Photograph: Paul Roberts/Offside

Cue the celebrations Photograph: Paul Roberts/Offside

The victory is Crawley's 28th from 41 matches ... an achievement their co-owner Bruce Winfield, who died in March, would have been very proud of Photograph: John Rushworth/Action Images

Sergio Torres, Crawley's Argentinian midfielder, downs some richly deserved champagne Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images