CREWE FC boss Ian O'Reilly remains adamant his side can still pull off the great escape despite two successive league defeats.

Set backs against Bollington and now at Poynton see them seven points adrift of safety in Mid Cheshire Division One.

But with four games in hand on third-bottom Daten, O'Reilly believes his players have the spirit to make them count.

"It's still in our hands and we have the ability to win all our remaining eight games," he explained.

"It gets harder and we're all a bit edgy but I'm confident we've got the players to get us out of trouble."

Crewe suffered a nightmare start at Poynton, trailing 1-0 early and losing full-backs Mark Blackburn and Alan Brown through injury inside the first 20 minutes.

Jon Dawson went close while Liam O'Reilly should have levelled at half-time on Tuesday night.

Chris Hampshire thumped the post with a fine second-half effort but the hosts sealed it with a late penalty.

"The amount of games we're cramming in is ridiculous," added O'Reilly.

"We've got lads jumping out of cars and going straight on the pitch.

"I think that's why the injury list is mounting up, we've lost nine now and we don't need that at this stage."

Crewe can take heart out from one of their season's best displays between two league defeats, whacking Pilkington 4-0 to reach the President's Cup Final, last Saturday.

Martin Cauldwell beat three players before finding the bottom corner for an interval lead.

Lee Westwood had the final say on a seven-pass move before Liam O'Reilly and Jon Dawson completed the rout.

"It was one of the best performances we've had this season," continued the boss.

"If we can reproduce it, we'll be fine.

"Although we'd trade it to stay up, we've made another final and we want to win it."

Crewe travel to Padgate on Saturday, rock-bottom Golborne on Tuesday and that final at Trafford on Thursday.