Crewe Alex...1 Preston...3

PRESTON spoilt Crewe's party at the Alexandra Stadium with two early goals to dampen the hopes of a record crowd.

In all honesty, It was the Alex who shot themselves in the foot rather than superior ability with awful defending to blame for a terrible start.

About two thirds of the 9,415 crowd have come to expect the fierce rearguard action instrumental in stretching Crewe's unbeaten home run since December 23.

But it wasn't apparent against Preston's play-off contenders with Efe Sodje particularly at fault.

Healy did the early damage on five minutes as he raced past the bandana man to tap home Rob Edwards' cross from close range.

Things looked bleak on 14 minutes as Preston went further in front thanks to Macken who received the ball on the edge of the box, turned Sodje and fired it into the top corner.

Kings of the comeback lately, Crewe snatched a lifeline within five minutes as Kenny Lunt's curling 25-yard free kick richoceted off the post and was hooked home by Rob Hulse, taking his season's tally to eleven.

Rivers and Ashton continued to look lively but Preston created most of the danger with 'George' Bankole doing well to deny Healy's free-kick.

Macken sealed a terrible half for Sodje as he outpaced him to pick up Rankine's cross and finish a one-on-one opportunity in style.

Dean Ashton was Crewe's main hope in the second-half and almost grabbed yet another blockbuster with a speculative 20-yard drive that sailed just a whisker over the bar on 55 minutes.

Within minutes the 17-year-old tried his luck again with a delicate chip that keeper Lucas stretched to hold.

Rodney Jack replaced Charnock on the hour mark as Crewe switched to all out attack, leaving Preston the space to create more opportunities through Anderson and Macken.

Ashton was again denied by Lucas who stunningly kept out his bullet header from Shaun Smith's free-kick as Preston looked to shut up shop.

The Premiership hopefuls did just that to coast home as Crewe supporters stayed on to salute their side's excellent season.

Crewe: Bankole (Kearton 83), Wright, Smith, Sodje, Foster, Lunt, Navarro (Sorvel 65), Charnock (Jack 61), Rivers, Hulse, Ashton. Subs not used: P Smith, Walker.

Attendance: 9,415.

Picture - CREWE'S Mark Rivers got stuck into Preston, last Saturday. Photo: Steve Finch.