CREWE FC's hopes of beating the drop took a blow with a 0-0 stalemate at Rylands, last Saturday.

Despite enjoying the best of it in Warrington, the Mid Cheshire Division One outfit were forced to settle for just a point with relegation rivals doing ditto to leave an unchanged position.

Four points adrift in the drop zone, Crewe will feel they blew a chance to cut that gap in this one.

Without boss Ian O'Reilly on the sidelines, assistant Gary Wood and Mark Sinclair took over the reins and must have felt they were coming back with three points.

Crewe dominated the majority of the ball and a lead looked on when Dave Hanson burst through only to put his lob wide of target.

It was a similar story in the second 45 and substitute Danny Massey almost nicked it for them but saw his shot whack the bar and end up safe, five minutes from time.

"We're still undefeated this year and that's the bonus for us," explained O'Reilly.

"But Gary and Mark were disappointed, they said we did enough there and it was two points dropped.

"We've just got to keep going now and we need wins."

It's a busy week as Crewe were due in action in a crunch home meeting with Bollington last night, followed by a cup trip to Pilkington on Saturday.

Crunch visits to Poynton and then Padgate follow.

"They're all big games for us now," continued O'Reilly.

"I'm still confident we can get ourselves out of trouble.

"It'll be tough playing two games a week but our lads are up for it."

Although this Saturday's President's Cup semi-final is a distraction, it remains important.

"We need to stay unbeaten and keep the run going," added O'Reilly.

"I've said before, the league's the priority and I'd swap the cup for points.

"But we've got this far and we want to win it."

trobinson@guardiangrp.co.uk