Crewe Alex...3 Tranmere Rovers...1

JUSTICE was done as Crewe completed a timely double over struggling Tranmere on Saturday.

It looked bleak at half-time with other results going against them, but Crewe then ran Rovers ragged and earned their reward despite enduring the worst officiating of the season.

Rivers almost delivered a dream start for the Alex during the first minute as he took the ball round keeper Achteburg only to see his finish cleared away by the lone defender.

After Ashton fired over the bar, all momentum swung the visitor's way with Bankole alert to deal with Allen's effort and Crewe's defence on song to clear successive corners.

Little saw his header well saved by Achteberg on 21 minutes who was in the thick of it again on the half-hour mark and arguably lucky to stay on the pitch.

Racing miles out of his area, the keeper clattered down Ashton with a dubious challenge that resulted in 'Deano ' leaving the field on a stretcher.

His replacement, Rob Hulse, came close with a late deflected effort as did Rivers, a minute later, but Tranmere snatched a lead in injury time through Parkinson who somehow beat the offside trap and Bankole from a tight angle.

Crewe caused problems after the break but there was little to suggest they could turn it around until a corner sparked an amazing fightback.

Steve Macauley rose above the Tranmere defence to meet Smith's inswinger with a bullet header that sent the ball off the post and into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Hulse timed his run to perfection to pick up Wright's pass before bursting forward and finishing in style.

'George' was still doing the business at the other end although he enjoyed a quiet final 20 minutes as Crewe piled on the pressure.

Referee Barry Knight certainly didn't endear himself to the Alex faithful after dismissing Little's solid penalty claim, frequent shirt-pulling on David Wright and ignoring Hulse who was thrown to the floor constantly as he backed into Rovers' rearguard.

It failed to help Tranmere though as Little's deflected goal, with seven minutes left, wrapped up a vital three points and kept spirits high.

Crewe: Bankole, Foster, Smith, Macauley, Walton, Wright, Lunt, Sorvel, Little, Ashton (Hulse 31), Rivers (Street 85).

Subs not used: Ince, Sodje, Gannon.

Attendance: 7,157.

Crewe's Neil Sorvel had the beating of Tranmere, last Saturday. Photo by Steve Finch.