Midfielder Josh Lundstram had given Crewe the lead early in the first half, but Palace equalised mid-way through the half in a good quality match-up.

Luke Walley had a great chance to add to last week's hat-trick after just five minutes, getting in one-on-one but the keeper made the save.

It was in the 16th minute when The Alex broke the deadlock, Dale breaking beyond the full-back and crossing low for Walley, who touched off for Lundstram to fire home.

Ten minutes later and the scores we leveled, Jake Hilton made a good save, parrying behind for a corner, but Palace made the set-piece tell, slotting in from the second phase.

Just after the hour mark Crewe scored what turned out to be the winner, Dale had just moved up front following a tactical switch-around and he was on hand to slide the ball home after sub Regan Griffiths intercepted play and fed Harry Pickering who set-up Dale.

Palace hit the post with 15 minutes to go in search of their equaliser, but Crewe held firm to record back-to-back victories and move to second place in the U18 PDL2 table.

Crewe: Hilton, Woodcock, Manuel (Sass-Davies, 45), Wilkinson, Johnson, Lynch, Lundstram, Dale, Pickering, Walley (Griffths, 60), Reilly (Offord, 88)