• Cole in red hot form
• Three goals, three points
• up to 4th in league table

Crewe Alexandra Women battled both Darwen FC Women and storm Isha to claim all three points at Crewe Alexandra in the Community.

Top scorer Emily Cole kept up her impressive form in front of goal by nestling in the opener as Leah Collins and Rubie Deaville capped off a dominant second half display with two superb finishes.

The home side made three changes to the starting XI with Everton loanees Emily Cole and Rubie Deaville replacing Laura Garner and Emma Heath. Ellie Jones got her first start of the season replacing the injured Eva-Rose Tankard.

Emilia Edwards kept the number nine spot with her four goals in last week's game but she turned to provider in the opening stages as her corner was turned home by Cole from close range.

Darwen 'keeper Danielle Hill made a great save midway through the first half as she got down low to deny a second from Cole.

Megan Ragdale could have doubled the lead in the 34th minute but she volleyed Katie Gibbons' cross over the crossbar.

Head Coach Matt Fisher introduced Leah Collins at the interval and it took the birthday girl less than two minutes to double the score. She regained possession of the ball in the Darwen half and raced clear of two defenders before cooling finishing past the onrushing Hill.

It became one way traffic with Crewe continuing to dominate the wide areas and it should have been three when Collins' cross into the box was struck just wide from Cole.

The third did come though. Deaville was fouled just outside the penalty, she claimed the ball  and expertly bent the ball over the wall into the Darwen net, where Hill stood no chance.

The Alex enjoyed the final 15 minutes of the game, where they kept possession and let the clock run down.

The win sees Crewe rise to fourth in what is an extremely tight division. The Alex travel to face West Didsbury & Chorlton this coming Sunday.