Crewe...0 Stoke...2

STOKE'S first win in South Cheshire for 15 years slammed a nail into Crewe's relegation coffin.

Or in reality did they do it themselves?

Suffering THIS scale of result against THAT opposition is almost the final straw for Alex fans who have been forced to endure probably the most miserable second half to a season in around two decades.

This devastating 2-0 defeat summed up the last four months entirely.

Three problems that have seen Crewe plummet from 8th to 21st on goal difference were all too evident.

No firepower since Dean Ashton's departure, horrendous mistakes at the back and failure to apply themselves for the full 90-plus minutes.

Although they didn't come to roll over, Stoke were clearly not fully focused and almost there for the taking last Saturday.

But Crewe's failure to make the most of their first-half chances gradually gave the Potters the impetus to go on and complete a gut-wrenching double.

It was almost suicidal stuff from the Alex who wilted under the pressure of snatching a vital three points.

Nerves were jangling early on when Gifton Noel-Williams headed straight at Clayton Ince from close range before Chris Greenacre fluffed the rebound.

Gradually Crewe settled down and Andy White went close to meeting David Vaughan's cross before Luke Varney did the same with a curling free-kick when Mark Rivers - in for Steve Jones - was brought down by Gerry Taggart.

The Alex thought they were in front when White bundled the ball over the line on 15 minutes only for the ref to rule it out for Colin Murdock's push on keeper Steve Simonsen.

The same centre-half almost atoned with a fierce downward header off Lunt's umpteenth corner only for Lewis Neal to block on the line after 25 minutes.

Rivers should have made it 1-0 after a decent three-man move but fired wide with just Simonsen to beat while White failed to get his head onto Tonkin's inviting cross from 12 yards.

Crewe were made to pay for those missed opportunities when Stoke capitalised on Murdock's absence through injury and turned the tables in the second half.

Greenacre and Neal both went close before loanee Kenwyne Jones tested Ince from the edge of the area on 55 minutes.

Stoke were on top with Noel Williams causing all sorts of problems although Crewe had one last throw of the dice with their best opportunity of the match on 74 minutes.

Vaughan's trademark mazy run through the defence was ended with a drive that drifted agonisingly past the far post.

Stoke stuck the boot in four minutes later when Neal beat his marker too easily to head home Greenacre's knock down.

While Crewe tried to muster fight for an equaliser, Ince was forced to deal with Brammer's long-range effort before seeing the ball hit the back of the net in bizarre circumstances.

Noel-Williams held off Walker and had him on the retreat before tucking the ball away from close range.

The Alex look in need of a minor miracle to turn this disaster around.

Crewe: Ince, Moss, Tonkin, McCready, Murdock (Walker 46), Sorvel, Lunt, Vaughan, Varney, Rivers, White (Higdon 68).

Subs not used: Williams, B Jones, G Roberts. Attendance - 9,166.

Guardian man-of-the-match: David Vaughan - only source of invention