Wycombe Wanderers jumped to third in League Two after beating Crawley 3-2 with a display of authority at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

Goals from Nathan Tyson, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Sido Jombati sealed a deserved victory after Karlan Ahearne-Grant had equalised Tyson's opener.

Panutche Camara pulled one back late on for Crawley but Wanderers held firm despite late pressure.

Tyson got Wanderers off to first-half lead on 24 minutes when he flicked in from close-range after Luke O’Nien met Joe Jacobson’s corner after a well-worked routine.

Ahearne-Grant levelled for the home side on 33 minutes when he wriggled free and Scott Brown could only get his fingertips to his firm shot which nestled into the back of the net.

Akinfenwa then replied in style for the visitors on 39 minutes when he thumped home a header for his 18th goal of the season after a brilliant cross by Tyson.

Wanderers were on top and Jombati added a third on 61 minutes after a wicked cross by Akinfenwa.

Camara pulled one back on 82 minutes to complete the scoring after a mistake from Jombati found the striker in space and his slammed into the roof of the net.

Crawley got off to a bright start and had a sighter at goal in the first minute when Josh Payne crossed for  Camara but his effort looped over the bar.

Wycombe looked comfortable in possession early on with some slick passing to try and open up their opponents.

Wanderers had a good chance to take the lead when Matt Bloomfield saw his 20-yard shot well saved by Glenn Morris on 10 minutes but the flag eventually went up for offside.

Bloomfield had another opportunity to give the visitors the lead on 17 minutes when he raced into the box after picking up the loose ball but fired just over.

The Chairboys were edging proceedings and got their just rewards on 24 minutes through Tyson.

Akinfenwa had a half-chance two minutes later when he met Jacobson’s free kick but his looping header went well over.

The home side still posed a threat and Enzio Boldewijn struck a firm shot on 29 minutes which went wide of Brown’s left-hand post.

Crawley equalised on 33 minutes through Ahearne-Grant but Akinfenwa replied six minutes later with a trademark header.

Crawley could have been down to 10 men after a rash challenge by Josh Payne on O’Nien but referee Graham Horwood deemed the foul was worth just a booking.

The second half started very evenly but the Blues had the first effort when another dangerous Jacobson delivery found Akinfenwa on 49 minutes but his header was easily held by Morris.

Brown then came to the rescue on 56 minutes when he made a fine save from point-blank range to deny Ahearne-Grant but the linesman adjudged the Charlton loanee to be offside.

The Chairboys then made it 3-1 thanks to Jombati and Tyson almost made it four on 71 minutes. Akinfenwa put the 35-year-old through after some exceptional hold-up play and his shot went inches wide with Morris beaten.

Crawley looked rattled and O'Nien almost scored with a screamer on 79 minutes, lashing a volley from 25 yards which Morris tipped over superbly.

However, Camara made matters interesting and Crawley tried to put the Blues under late pressure.

In injury-time, Mark Connolly was sent off for a second booking after a crunching challenge on O'Nien and the Chairboys held on for a terrific victory, five points off leaders Accrington Stanley.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Brown, Moore, Jombati, El-Abd, Jacobson, Bean, Gape, O’Nien (sub: Mackail-Smith, 90), Bloomfield (sub: Thompson, 63), Akinfenwa, Tyson. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Kashket, Cowan-Hall, McGinley, Williams.

CRAWLEY TOWN: Morris, Young, Payne (sub: Roberts, 70), McNerney, Connolly, Boldewijn, Smith, Ahearne-Grant, Evina, Bulman, Camara. Subs: Mersin, Roberts, Djalo, Tajbakhsh, Lelan, Randall, Sanoh.

REFEREE: Graham Horwood