Courtney Baker-Richardson secured Crewe a first win in five League Two games as his second-half strike earned a 1-0 success over Crawley.
The frontman ran in behind onto a long ball and smashed a low finish into the corner of the net with the outside of his boot in the 73rd minute.
Kelvin Mellor was agonisingly close for the Railwaymen in the first half when his diving header struck the foot of the post.
Corey Addai was off his line smartly to block another effort from Baker-Richardson with a firm pair of hands at the near post.
The goalkeeper also held onto a Bassala Sambou header, while Dan Agyei’s deflected effort flew just over.
Crawley, who had an early penalty appeal turned away when James Tilley went down in the box, wasted the best chance of the first half when Tom Fellows, put through on goal, attempted to lob the onrushing Arthur Okonkwo but clipped the ball straight into the hands of the keeper.
The visitors’ poor finishing was in evidence again after the break, although it was defender Harry Ransom who miscued a volley as the goal gaped at the far post when Ludwig Francillette relayed the ball on.
Dom Telford hit a strong shot on the turn, which Okonkwo did well to hold as Crawley began to offer a threat.
But they were undone by a fine finish from Baker-Richardson, who netted his fifth league goal of the campaign.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Crewe
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Okonkwo
- 2Mellor
- 6Offord
- 5McDonald
- 21Uwakwe
- 8ThomasBooked at 86mins
- 20King
- 19Sambou
- 10AinleySubstituted forBrookat 61′minutes
- 11AgyeiSubstituted forLeshabelaat 74′minutes
- 9Baker-RichardsonBooked at 38minsSubstituted forWilliamsat 90+3′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Richards
- 3Adebisi
- 4Williams
- 17Brook
- 18Leshabela
- 22Sass-Davies
- 24Finney
Crawley
Formation 3-5-2
- 34Addai
- 15Francillette
- 12Ransom
- 5CraigSubstituted forPowellat 84′minutes
- 38Fellows
- 7TilleySubstituted forChukwuemekaat 74′minutes
- 39Hessenthaler
- 20Balagizi
- 25Tsaroulla
- 19TelfordSubstituted forNadesanat 74′minutes
- 9Nichols
Substitutes
- 8Powell
- 10Nadesan
- 23Johnson
- 27Khaleel
- 41Robson
- 44Ogungbo
- 50Chukwuemeka
- Referee:
- Rebecca Welch
- Attendance:
- 3,717
Live Text
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Match ends, Crewe Alexandra 1, Crawley Town 0.
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Second Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 1, Crawley Town 0.
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Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Zac Williams replaces Courtney Baker-Richardson.
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Foul by Caleb Chukwuemeka (Crawley Town).
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Luke Offord (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Bassala Sambou.
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Nicholas Tsaroulla (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bassala Sambou (Crewe Alexandra).
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Conor Thomas (Crewe Alexandra) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Tom Nichols (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Conor Thomas (Crewe Alexandra).
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Foul by James Balagizi (Crawley Town).
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Thakgalo Leshabela (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Crawley Town. Jack Powell replaces Tony Craig.
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Attempt missed. Ashley Nadesan (Crawley Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Nichols with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Courtney Baker-Richardson (Crewe Alexandra) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Conor Thomas.
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Attempt missed. Bassala Sambou (Crewe Alexandra) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Conor Thomas with a cross.
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Foul by Ludwig Francillette (Crawley Town).
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Bassala Sambou (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. James Balagizi (Crawley Town) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Tom Nichols.

