Crawley Town are celebrating after winning their appeal to the Football Association to have their points deduction reduced.

A three-man FA appeal board yesterday upheld their appeal against the sanction imposed on them for fielding an unregistered player, so their points decuction is changed from four points to just one.

Crawley chairman Vic Marley said: “We are all delighted that justice has prevailed.”

Oxford had five points deducted for a similar offence, and chose not to appeal.

But Crawley’s appeal to the FA was specifically to challenge the Conference’s ruling that it was unfair in comparison to that handed to Oxford, Bognor Regis and Mansfield.

U’s chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “The points deduction episode has been a tough time for the club. Now I feel that all three clubs have been punished the same and that it is put to bed.”