Grimsby Town...1 Crewe Alex...3

CREWE ended their bleak midwinter with a vital victory at Grimsby on Saturday.

A fitness test at Blundell Park ruled out David Wright for the important fixture and Efe Sodje was called upon to fill his place.

As anticipated Grimsby dominated the early stages but stout defending by the Alex rearguard denied them any breakthrough.

Gradually Crewe mounted their own attacks but Livingstone headed against his own crossbar when a goal seemed imminent.

Shortly afterwards Rivers beat Gallimore on the right and his cross was neatly turned in by Rob Hulse.

The home side were stung into action and only a fine save by 'George' Bankole denied them an equaliser

Down at the other end, Crewe won a corner on the right and from Shaun Smith's cross, Hulse headed firmly into the back of the net.

That scoreline delighted the travelling Alex fans and it remained unaltered as the half-time whistle sounded.

Fostervold and Williams replaced Gallimore and Coldicott as the second-half started and in the 56th minute Donovan beat Bankole with a fine shot.

Home fans anticipated a leveller but it was Crewe that produced the shock when Rivers, released on the right, drove the ball past keeper Coyne on 62 minutes.

Rodney Jack had an effort cleared via the home crossbar and Rivers continued to cause problems down the flank.

With eight minutes remaining, Dean Ashton replaced the two goal hero Hulse and he almost added to the total with an effort that travelled just wide.

Bankole dealt adequately with anything that the home side created while wayward passing and shooting helped the Alex defence.

As the minutes ticked away, home fans were seen streaming from the ground that had seen a well-below par attendance of 4,495.

A hard-working Crewe side deserved the points on the day. Has the revival all fans wanted to see now started?

Crewe: Bankole, Sodje, S Smith, Macauley, Foster, Gannon, Lunt, Sorvel, Jack, Hulse (Ashton 82), Rivers. Subs not used: Ince, Walker, Tait, Cramb.

ROB Hulse provided a constant aerial threat, last Saturday.