Jon Macken and David Healy fuelled Preston's promotion ambitions with a
clinical display of finishing at Gresty Road.
The hottest partnership in the First Division were both on target to make
almost certain of a place in the play-offs.
Healy was first off the mark. Rob Edwards whipped a long ball into the area
and the former Manchester United man took advantage of slack marking to pounce
and open the scoring from six yards out.
Top scorer Macken doubled the visitors' lead after 13 minutes. The striker
turned sharply onto a Graham Alexander pass and finished superbly into the top
corner.
Dario Gradi's men pulled a goal back through Rob Hulse after 19 minutes. Kenny
Lunt curled a superb 30-yard free-kick onto the post and the striker was first
to the rebound to slam home.
Preston restored the two-goal lead on the stroke of half-time. Mark Rankin
sent Macken racing clear of the Crewe defence and the striker coolly drew keeper
Ademola Bankole before drilling into the back of the net.
Crewe had made a lively start with Rob Hulse working out a shooting chance for
Alan Navarro, but the on-loan Liverpool man fired wide.
Mark Rivers drove forward, but his shot was brilliantly saved by David Lucas.
Rivers was beginning to cause problems and Lucas flapped at a cross from the
striker, but Hulse could not reach the loose ball.
Bankole produced a brilliant fingertip save to deny Alexander's free-kick.
Next the giant Nigerian keeper kept Healy at bay when he stopped the striker's
volley at point-blank range.
Crewe fought to get back into the game after the break and a clever chip from
Dean Ashton was stopped by Lucas. Preston's Ian Anderson showed terrific skill
to beat two challenges, but Bankole was on hand to make an easy save.
Crew substitute Neil Sorvel fired in a deep cross and Ashton got down well to
make a terrific header, but Lucas saved well.
Then Lucas was in the right place to stop a Lunt drive. Sorvel drove forward
and crashed a shot off the Preston bar as Crewe hit back.
Teams
Crewe: Bankole (Kearton 82), Wright, Shaun Smith, Sodje,
Foster, Navarro (Sorvel 63), Lunt, Charnock (Jack 61), Rivers,
Hulse, Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Peter Smith, Walker.
Booked: Navarro, Sodje.
Goals: Hulse 19.
Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Edwards, Jackson (Barry-Murphy 89),
Kidd, McKenna, Anderson (Cartwright 75), Rankine, Gregan,
Healy (Cresswell 84), Macken.
Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Gunnlaugsson.
Booked: Healy.
Goals: Healy 5, Macken 13, 45.
Att: 9,415
Ref: G Frankland (Middlesbrough).
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