Callum Ainley gave Crewe the lead in the first half before the Trotters equalised with a disputed penalty on the hour mark to take a share of the spoils.

Callum Saunders returned to the side after injury, and it was he who made the first mark on the game in the 20th minute, being fouled in the box for a penalty, before picking himself up and blasting the spot-kick high over the bar.

The striker had another good opportunity to open the scoring ten minutes later, but he missed the target when the opportunity presented itself from close range.

The Alex kept up the pressure and went ahead through Ainley on 37 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the box before firing left footed into the net.

Into the second period, Wanderers were handed a route back into the game on the hour mark when Ben Nugent was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area, with spot-kick being converted.

Crewe fought back and Ryan Wintle's back-post header was saved from a good Oliver Finney cross on 66 minutes, before Dan Udoh tested the keeper with a fierce drive four minutes later.

Full-back Callum Bullock had the final Crewe chance with two minute remaining, coming on to a cut-back but he scuffed his effort & the game ended all square.

Crewe: Richards, Bullock, Nugent, Ng, Pickering, Finney, Wintle, Kirk (Dale), Ainley, Udoh, Saunders (Lundstram)