Nicky Maynard scored his first goal since our New Year's Day victory over Tranmere Rovers to finally give us another three precious points on the road. The last time we had recorded a win on our travels was at Vale Park back in early November when Elliott Bennett scored the winner to seal the derby. It has been too long and credit to those Alex fans who travelled to Brisbane Road to see it achieved.
Maynard bravely nodded home the only goal of the game in the 26th minute and in truth Crewe had ample opportunity to have put this game out of Leyton Orient's reach before the half-time interval. Maynard, Byron Moore and Steven Schumacher all had decent chances to add to our solitary goal.
Crewe had deservedly led at the break but with just the one goal in it, the home side were always in the match. So it proved in the second half because to be fair to Martin Ling's side they threw everything at us to try and draw level. They conjured numerous chances but found Ben Williams in inspired form once again. He made some terrific saves to see Crewe secure such a morale boosting three points.
Crewe Alexandra completed the loan signing of Ipswich Town winger Gary Roberts in time for him to take his place in Steve Holland's starting line-up. That was the only change from the side that drew 2-2 with the current league leaders Swansea City at the weekend. Michael O'Connor didn't travel to East London due to his ongoing chest infection.
Captain Neil Cox returned to the substitutes bench after missing Saturday's home game with Swansea City. Mark Carrington was the unlucky one to drop out of the sixteen-man squad.
Full-back Danny Woodards shook off his ankle injury to retain his place in the side. Despite his troublesome hip problem, Ben Rix started again, ahead of his planned operation next week.
The visitors made a confident start to the game with new signing Roberts quickly involved in the thick of it. His first contribution saw him win a free-kick in the opening minute before he then forced Orient's Stuart Nelson into the first noteworthy save of the evening after four minutes.
Maynard won a free-kick on the edge of the Leyton Orient box following a lunging tackle from Adam Chambers. Roberts was confident enough to get on the ball and take it and his curling effort was pushed away by the alert Nelson. The supporting Patrick Boyle couldn't direct his header goalwards from the rebound.
At the other end, Orient's leading scorer Adam Boyd shot rather tamely at Ben Williams before Paul Terry directed a shot just wide following a well rehearsed free kick. If the former Yeovil man had managed to direct it on goal, Ben Williams would have been left stranded.
Crewe were creating chances though and Maynard screwed his shot just wide after being played in superbly by Moore. To be fair to Maynard he was under severe pressure from defender Brian Saah as he attempted to slide it by the onrushing Nelson.
After ten minutes, Crewe conjured up another decent chance following some more flowing football. Ben Rix played in midfielder Steven Schumacher but just as he was about to pull the trigger, the covering full back Stephen Perches came across to produce a goal saving tackle. It was impeccably timed.
On 15 minutes, Chambers was granted too much time and space in the midfield area. After being encouraged to progress forward by an expectant crowd, he drilled a 25-yard shot into the arms of the well-positioned Williams. It was real end-to-end stuff for both sides.
Crewe thought they had achieved a just reward for their early efforts when Moore did have the ball in the net after 19 minutes. After putting Saah under pressure, Roberts took Nelson out of the equation with a clever pass but Moore had just strayed offside before tapping into an empty net. It would be worth another viewing on the DVD.
From another promising move, a dangerous cross from Danny Woodards picked out Moore. His downward header into the six-yard box was eventually turned behind by Schumacher. Crewe certainly looked the most likely side to take the lead.
After 24 minutes, Martin Ling was forced into an early change with defender Tamika Mkandawire forced to leave the field through injury. Sam Oji replaced him.
Crewe deservedly took the lead two minutes later with Nicky Maynard nodding home his third goal of the season. As the Orient defence hesitated, the striker bravely got his head onto the ball inside the six-yard box after Schumacher had caused mayhem with another wicked delivery. Roberts flicked possession into the danger zone and Maynard beat Nelson to the loose ball to score his first goal since New Years Day. It was no more than the Alex deserved because they had looked dangerous every time they had ventured forward.
After the goal, Ben Rix was lucky to get up ever again after a horrendous tackle from Charlie Daniels. To be fair to the defender, Rix had just managed to poke possession out to the wing before taking the full force of Daniels body weight. It was a hefty whack, which saw Daniels rightly enter the referee's book.
It was also a bruising night for the Orient because Andy Barcham was the next player to leave the field early through injury. He hobbled off to be replaced by Jason Demetriou.
On 36 minutes, Crewe had to survive a bit of a mass melee in front of Ben Williams. With so many bodies massed ahead of Ben Williams it was difficult to judge how close the home side were to turning it over the line, but Maynard was back doing his defensive duties to eventually whack it clear.
Moments later Jabo Ibehre delivered a dangerous low cross, which only needed Boyd to apply a definite touch, but after both he and Daniel O'Donnell missed it, Danny Woodards cleared the danger.
Just before the interval, Crewe's captain on the night Julien Baudet was booked for tugging back Jabo Ibehre as he tired to race clear. Things nearly got doubly worse for the Frenchman because from the resultant free-kick Jabo nearly headed an equaliser. Stephen Purches delivered a wonderful delivery, which saw Jabo force a fantastic save from Ben Williams.
In first half stoppage time, the lively Nicky Maynard could have claimed a penalty following a trip as he entered the box, but the striker understandably tried to remain on his feet and the referee wasn't interested in our protests when we eventually lost his balance. It was debatable.
In the opening couple of minutes of the second half Adam Boyd fired just over the bar as the home side tried to come out of the blocks quickly. The same player maybe should have done better when he seized on a mistake from Gary Roberts in the centre of the Alex midfield. He pinched the ball from him to race through on goal but after turning Baudet he shot straight at Ben Williams.
Again Crewe were on the back foot with Boyd turning a Daniels cross just wide after another encouraging attack from the home side. They had certainly come out with a lot more purpose as an attacking force. Martin Ling had obviously had his say at the interval.
It is no exaggeration to suggest that Boyd could have had a quick fire hat-trick. From a cheap free kick, Jabo held onto possession superbly before setting up Boyd for the volley. Thankfully, Ben Williams was well placed to get his body behind the shot and deflect it away from danger. Either side of the Alex number one and Orient would have been level.
Crewe were hanging on to their slender lead and Orient's first half substitute Jason Demetriou kneed another effort wide of the target when it looked easier to score. To compound matters, Crewe then lost Julien Baudet through injury. The captain was replaced by George Abbey just after the hour mark with Danny Woodards moving into the centre of the Alex defence. Ben Rix took the captain's armband.
In reply, Crewe still looked a threat on the break but too often were halted in their tracks by the assistant referee's flag.
It was still Orient looking the more likely to score the next goal though. After Crewe had only headed to the edge of the box, Paul Terry's dipping half volley only just cleared the bar. They were getting closer.
On 66 minutes, Ben Williams was the hero again, pushing away a clever flick from Ibehre from inside the six-yard box. The striker beat the floor in frustration as the inspired Crewe keeper kept him and his teammates out once again.
That latest effort prompted Steve Holland to introduce the added experience of Neil Cox in midfield. Byron Moore made way with the on loan Gary Roberts moving into a move advanced position.
Ling also introduced the extra presence of Wayne Gray for Wayne Corden as they went in search of a leveller. The substitute was quickly into the action but after finding some space inside the Alex penalty area, his low shot was again pushed away by Williams. He was keeping Crewe in the game. Boyd headed another Purches free kick wide of the mark as the pressure really mounted on the Crewe back line.
With just over ten minutes remaining, the impressive Roberts made way for Tom Pope. When Sam Oji then smacked the top of the Crewe cross bar from a free-kick you kind of sensed that we were finally going to get a rub of the green. Good fortune seemed to be on our side.
Crewe were desperate for the final whistle, although Maynard nearly latched onto a clever pass from Schumacher to ease the tension. A second goal at that stage would have been ideal.
As it was, there was still time for Boyd to head yet another effort over the bar. The high balls into our box kept coming and the Crewe defence kept heading them away. It really wasn't his or Orient's night. At last it proved to be Crewe Alexandra's away from home.
