Crewe ended a miserable season on a high as they produced a rousing second-half flourish to see off fellow relegated side Millwall at a half-full Gresty Road.

Alex were second best in a listless opening 45 minutes but managed to go into the interval on level terms after Eddie Johnson's superbly-executed volley had cancelled out Ben May's opener.

The hosts, however, were a different proposition after the break and goals by Nicky Maynard - with his first touch in professional football - Luke Varney and Steve Jones saw them romp to victory.

The Lions, who like Crewe were consigned to the drop two weeks ago, had managed an equaliser through May's second of the match on the hour mark but they could not cope with Alex's attacking vim in the second period.

A match low on both intensity and quality only came to life a few times in the opening 45 minutes.

Berry Powel and Marvin Elliott squandered half-chances in the first 10 minutes while at the other end, Johnson clipped the top of the bar with a left-foot shot from eight yards out after good work by Billy Jones on the left.

May broke the deadlock after a quarter of an hour, the striker prodding home from just outside the six-yard box after the sprightly Marvin Williams had fizzed a centre across the area from the left flank.

Crewe struggled to get their renowned passing game going and only busy midfielder David Vaughan looked capable of piercing the Lions' backline.

The hosts came close to restoring parity in the 32nd minute when Stephen Foster's header from a Kenny Lunt corner forced goalkeeper Colin Doyle into a decent save.

And they did force an equaliser in the 42nd minute when Johnson met a Michael Higdon lay-off with a powerful right-foot volley that flew into the bottom corner from just outside the area.

The second period had barely begun when Crewe took the lead for the first time.

Maynard, brought on at the start of the half in place of Higdon, was quickest to react when fellow interval substitute Michael O'Connor's shot was blocked and the 19-year-old debutant stretched to lash home high into the net from the right-hand edge of the six-yard box.

Johnson was forced to clear a weak Elliott shot off his own line as Millwall threatened an immediate riposte.

Their equaliser came in the 59th minute, May floating a delightful glancing header into the far corner from eight yards after meeting another cross from Williams.

The visitors, though, were caught napping as within 30 seconds Crewe regained their lead when Varney ran onto a Johnson through-ball and slid his finish under the advancing Doyle from 10 yards out.

Steve Jones, who has announced he will leave Alex on a Bosman at the end of the season, came on in place of the injured Johnson to a crescendo of boos.

But those jeers turned to cheers in the 84th minute when he slotted home in style after Varney's cut-back was deflected into his path.

Teams

Crewe Tomlinson, Bignot, McCready, Foster, Billy Jones,Vaughan, Bell (Maynard 45), Lunt, Varney,Johnson (Steve Jones 73), Higdon (O'Connor 45).

Subs Not Used: Moses, Roberts.

Goals: Johnson 43, Maynard 46, Varney 59, Steve Jones 84.

Millwall Doyle, Phillips, Paul Robinson, Whitbread, Craig,Cogan, Elliott, Hendry, Williams, May, Powel (Fangueiro 75).

Subs Not Used: Brooks, Weston, Trevor Robinson, Pooley.

Goals: May 15, 58.

Att: 5,945

Ref: G Salisbury (Lancashire).