A LATE equaliser from County's captain forced Crewe to share the points at Edgeley Park on Saturday.

The Alex threatened to pull off a smash and grab raid after a first half effort from Jermaine Wright, but a 79th minute header from Mike Flynn sent a wave of relief around the home fans.

Crewe were lucky to go in a goal up at half-time thanks to Wright's strike on 35 minutes, which also had more than a touch of good fortune.

Previously unused Mark Rivers finally managed to put the Stockport back line under pressure, and when the clearance was scuffed Wright was first to react.

The young midfielder powered a shot, which County keeper Carlo Nash could only parry into the air and watch loop into the net as he scrambled helplessly back to his line.

The goal was the first real attack of a largely lifeless first-half, with the home side making all the chances.

The best of them came on 24 minutes when tall striker Brett Angel's header was cleared off the line by Kenny Lunt to adamant handball appeals from the County fans and players alike.

After the goal Crewe started to edge their way into the game and James Collins was only inches away from getting a vital touch to a fierce Rodney Jack cross.

Both sides started the second half brighter and began to push more players forward, hesitantly throwing an ounce of caution to the wind.

Crewe nearly doubled their lead straight after the break when Jack fired in another explosive cross which was prodded goalbound by Rivers, but Nash did well to cover.

Then at the other end, Angel was given a clear header from the penalty spot, but his finish was woefully wide.

County again started to impose themselves and were nearly gifted an equaliser when Kearton, desperate to keep a Shaun Smith header in play, dropped the ball at the feet of the Blues attack.

But from the ensuing scramble Kearton recovered well to parry a Kevin Cooper strike with his legs.

Stockport continued to boss the game in midfield and their deserved equaliser finally came when Mike Flynn forcefully headed home at the far post from a corner.

Both sides came agonisingly close to snatching a winner with Angel's six-yard effort blocked and Jack firing wide after outstripping the defence, but the Alex couldn't complain with taking a point from a tricky tie.

Stockport County: Nash, Connelly, Woodthorpe, Cook, Flynn, McIntosh, Dinning, Byrne, Angell, Moore, Cooper (sub Wilbraham 65).

Crewe Alex: Kearton, Bi.0gnot, Smith, Wicks, Unsworth, Collins (sub Little 45), Wright, Johnson (sub Charnock 58), Jack, Lunt, Rivers (sub Anthrobus 85)

Attendance: 7,302

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