DISMAL batting put Crewe firmly back in the relegation dogfight as they suffered a shock upset against Stafford.

Matt Dawson and the boys are now looking over their shoulders after a miserable afternoon at the Vagrants, last Saturday.

Their recent revival was halted in dramatic fashion with the hosts shot out for a sorry total of just 38.

And second-bottom Norton's surprise win over champions Wood Lane means Crewe are not yet mathematically safe with two games still to go.

It all went wrong when Stafford were finally put into bat at 4pm after a long delay for the downpours to cease.

Substitute pro Naveed Ashraf took an early wicket to give the hosts early hope but it quickly evaporated.

Guy Seaton (53) and Indian professional Madhusudan Acharya (56) put together a century partnership to turn the game in Stafford's favour before Crewe fought back.

Ashraf (3-49) and Tom Gower (1-30) struck to keep the visitors in check and following two run-outs, their innings closed on 154-6 off a reduced allocation of 29 overs.

Crewe must have fancied victory, a draw at least after recent performances, but the batsman just couldn't cope with the duel attack of Mark Bengry and Acharya.

Home supporters were stunned into silence as they saw top order obliterated with four wickets tumbling for only two runs.

Bengry's fire pace did some serious damage, claiming six wickets for 16 runs while the left-arm spin of Acharya (4-14) mopped up the rest.

Gower (10) was the only man to reach double figures as Crewe crashed to a huge 118-run defeat.

Stafford claimed the maximum 25 points to leap from tenth to fifth in the table while the hosts face a couple of anxious weeks after only picking up three.

They need to bounce back and avoid any last day nerves with victory in the derby at Elworth; this Saturday at 12.30pm.

Sunday sees Crewe take part in the inaugural Phoenix 15 finals at Rode Park.

A semi final clash with Newcastle starts at 11am with the final due at 4pm.