Kenny Lunt's brace gave Crewe breathing space away from the Nationwide First
Division relegation zone with victory over below-par Stoke.
Despite making a shaky start to the contest, Lunt got the ball rolling after
25 minutes when his strike from just inside the penalty area took a huge
deflection and bobbled into the back of the net.
Although the Dubious Goals Panel may take Lunt's opener away from him, there
were no arguments about his second - a wonderful long-range volley which rifled
into the top corner of the net after 61 minutes.
Stoke battled back gamely but a combination of wayward finishing and the width
of a post and the crossbar helped Crewe secure only their second victory in 11
outings.
However, the visitors - who had lost just once in 15 league games prior to the
Gresty Road clash - were quickest out of the traps and controlled the early
stages without creating any clear-cut chances on goal.
But for all their recent problems, Crewe were a threat on the counter-attack
and fashioned the best chance of the game after 10 minutes.
David Vaughan's well-weighted delivery from the left flank found Craig
Hignett, who controlled well inside the penalty area and slalomed towards goal.
The Leicester loan signing's neat flick beat goalkeeper Ed de Goey but could
not find the target as the ball drifted inches over the crossbar.
Stoke failed to heed the warning signs and five minutes before the half-hour
mark, the home side took the lead.
Neat interplay between Dean Ashton and Steve Jones unlocked Stoke's defence
for the second time and Lunt pulled the trigger with a rather untidy drive which
needed the aid of a severe deflection off Marcus Hall to reach the back of the
net.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis responded to his side's turgid first-half performance
by dragging off Peter Hoekstra in preference for Kris Commons at the interval.
The change had the desired effect as the Potters finally sprung into life. Ade
Akinbiyi brought the best out of goalkeeper Ben Williams who parried the former
Crystal Palace striker's snap-shot, while Commons also went close with a
speculative rocket from 25 yards.
And after Carl Asaba struck the crossbar from the edge of the area shortly
afterwards, City supporters sensed a comeback.
However, Crewe had other ideas and a minute after the hour mark, maximum
points were effectively sealed as Lunt put clear water between the two sides.
Gerry Taggart's weak clearance could only find Lunt who kept his composure
before unleashing a magnificent 25-yard volley that left de Goey with no
chance.
Stoke tried desperately to claw their way back into the game and Akinbiyi
somehow struck a post when it seemed far easier to side-foot the ball into the
back of the net.
The visitors continued to pour forward, but Akinbiyi's miss was as close as
they came to reducing the arrears, and Crewe ran out deserved winners.
Teams
Crewe Williams, Billy Jones, Foster, McCready, Vaughan, Lunt,
Sorvel, Cochrane, Hignett (Moses 87), Steve Jones, Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Tomlinson, Higdon, Zayed.
Booked: Billy Jones.
Goals: Lunt 25, 61.
Stoke de Goey, Halls, Taggart, Thomas, Clarke,
Hoekstra (Commons 45), Russell, Svard (Gunnarsson 58),
Marcus Hall, Asaba, Akinbiyi.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Hill, Henry.
Booked: Halls.
Att: 10,014
Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
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