Captain Billy Jones scored another winner for the Alex against Hereford United to give the club our third successive win following wins away at Grimsby and Darlington. Into the bargain our back three kept another clean sheet too. Hereford didn't really create too many chances during the afternoon. Although still early days in regards to the league table, our third straight win has taken us into third place. Ironically, next weekend's opponents Bournemouth are fourth also on 9 points.

After Zola had drawn a penalty for a shirt pull from Darren Dennehy, Jones actually saw his initial spot kick superbly saved by Adam Bartlett only for the Alex captain to nod home the rebound.

That proved to be the difference over 90 minutes and overall Crewe certainly created the better of the chances. Late on substitute, Anthony Elding, looked to have secured the points with a real poachers effort inside the 6-yard box but surprisingly, what would have been his first goal of the season was chalked off for offside. It would have certainly been tight.

With the club's on-loan goalkeeper David Button being recalled by his parent club Tottenham Hotspur, Gudjon Thordarson was forced into one change from the side that picked up a second successive away win at Darlington on Tuesday evening. Thordarson once again selected Adam Legzdins, who made his Football League debut for the club. Steve Collis was recalled to the substitutes bench, as was defender Daniel O'Donnell after he shook off a hip complaint.

In the Hereford United side was our former captain Kenny Lunt, who was lining up against the club he joined as an Academy youngster for the first time in his career.

At a sunny Alexandra Stadium, It was Crewe, as the home side, creating the better of the chances in the opening passages of play. The visitors had to rely on the reflexes of their goalkeeper Adam Bartlett to keep a decent effort from the in-form Calvin Zola at bay in the opening few minutes.

Zola raced onto a long through ball from his own goalkeeper Legzdins and after leggy centre-back Darren Dennehy had allowed the ball to run, he was thankful for the quick reactions of his own goalkeeper Adam Bartlett who raced out to deflect Zola's effort just wide for corner.

Crewe Alexandra centre-half Patrick Ada certainly knew he was in a game up against the lively Tristan Plummer, who had joined the club on loan yesterday from Bristol City. The robust striker was a handful with his pace and linked up well with the former Port Vale striker Leon Constantine.

Legzdins was called into action for the first time on 11 minutes after Dennehy had headed a Kenny Lunt corner goalwards. The keeper pulled off a fine save inside a crowded penalty area and the on hand John Brayford was there to complete the clearance ahead of Constantine.

Crewe started to play a little bit too long and after a bright spell the match went into a scrappy period. That was broken by a well struck free-kick from Crewe's Billy Jones from the edge of the Hereford box. Adam Bartlett tipped his curling effort over the bar for another Alex corner. Zola, at a stretch headed the corner over the bar.

Hereford midfielder Glen Southam dragged a shot from 20 yards wide of the mark before Plummer was cheaply booked for throwing the ball away.

Winger Grant and Zola combined well on 24 minutes to see the towering Zola head an effort into the hands of Bartlett. A minute later, Harry Worley hooked a Steven Schumacher shot well over the bar. Schumacher himself shot over the bar after Grant had found him on the edge of the box.

The match changed on 35 minutes with Zola doing superbly to earn a penalty. The lanky striker held off the intentions of Darren Dennehy before entering the penalty area. As he made his way towards the by-line, the referee's assistant flagged for a pull on Zola's shirt and awarded a spot kick. Zola needed some treatment for a tight muscle but after a short delay, Billy Jones stepped up to take yet another penalty against the Bulls. On this occasion, Bartlett saved superbly but in the follow up Jones nodded into the empty net for his second goal of the season.

Crewe just about deserved it overall and it was the Railwaymen certainly finishing the first half as the stronger of the two sides. With time running out, a flowing passing move involving Verma, Grant and the rampaging John Brayford was comfortably the move of the match. Only a timely recovery tackle from Richard Rose prevented Schumacher from possibly getting in on goal.

At the beginning of the second half, Hereford lost Southam due to a facial injury, and had to be replaced by Jamie Tolley.

Crewe started on the front foot again with Grant in inspired form. He was a constant threat with his pace and ability on the ball and after he had shot wide on 53 minutes, he was rather unlucky to see his flick header from a Byron Moore cross drift just wide of the far post.

At the other end, substitute Tolley dragged a shot wide of the target after some good approach play from Johnny Godsmark.

Hereford introduced another of their loan signings Marlon Jackson for Constantine and Lunt received some boos after going down under a challenge from Verma. It was a nice piece of acting from our former captain!

Moments later, Verma stole possession from Lunt and after some neat passing between him and Grant, the Alex winger shot just over the bar from the edge of the box. Verma, himself also went close when heading a Billy Jones corner just wide of the mark.

Crewe always looked the more likely to score again and on 65 minutes, the Bulls keeper Barlett did well again to deny Zola. The Congolese striker showed great strength again to make it into the penalty area and his fierce shot was blocked by Barlett. The rebound should have been converted by either Grant or Verma but again Hereford rode their luck and escaped falling further behind.

Three minutes later another promising move saw Schumacher involved again and after he had found Grant on the edge of the box, he intelligently waited for the overlapping Brayford to go ahead of him.Brayford took his pass in his stride but his low shot went just wide of the far post.

In fairness, Hereford United never really created a clear-cut chance against Crewe's organised and stubborn back-line. Substitute Jackson did well to turn the exceptional Ada, but his former Histon team-mate MatMitchel-King did superbly to shield both Jackson and the ball out of play.

There was a flurry of substitutions, with Gavin McCallum coming on for Godsmark and Donaldson replacing Moore for Crewe.

Donaldson nearly scored with eight minutes remaining after Grant had cleverly flicked possession into his path. He showed good strength to hold off the intentions of Dennehy but his curling shot went a yard wide of the target.

With the score still only 1-0, the game entered a nervous period but Crewe had defended well all afternoon and Legzdins was hardly troubled.

Substitute Elding must have thought he had secured the points when he applied the final touch to a super cross from Verma but as the Alexandra Stadium celebrated three points, no-one had really spotted the assistant's flag. It would have been a very tight decision.

As Crewe went in search of a killer second goal, Elding volleyed another effort into the arms of Barlett.

Hereford did force a couple of late corners but the impeccable Mat Mitchel-King and Worley continued to get their heads onto crosses coming into our box. After Dehenny's late effort was collected by Legzdins at the foot of his post, the three points were secured.

Crewe: Legzdins, Brayford, Jones, Mat Mitchel-King, Ada, Worsley, Schumacher (Westwood), Grant (Donaldson), Verma, Moore (Elding, Zola

Hereford: Bartlett, Rose, Pugh, C. Jones, Dennehy, D. Jones, Green, Lunt, Southam, Morris, Constantine, Godsmark, Plummer