Striker Shaun Miller rescued a point for the Alex at Sincil Bank with a real goal poacher's goal on 84 minutes. Miller was in the right place at the right time to turn home a lofted cross from his strike partner Byron Moore. It was no more than the Alex deserved after enjoying the majority of the possession after Davide Somma had given the home side the lead barely 60 seconds into the second half withan unstoppable shot.

Both sides also hit the post in the first half and although Crewe looked the more likely side to win in the second half, they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

With Calvin Zola declaring himself unavailable for selection, the decision to start with the Congolese striker was taken out of Dario Gradi's hands. Therefore, the Alex boss named an unchanged starting eleven for the trip to Lincoln City's Sincil Bank with Shaun Miller again partnering Byron Moore upfront. Zola has trained with the first team squad over the last couple of days, but felt that he needed more time to regain his overall fitness.

There was also a change on the substitutes' bench with Chris Clements taking the place of Patrick Ada, who rejected the chance to join Rushden and Diamonds on loan yesterday.

Lincoln, who had conceded three early goals at Vale Park on Wednesday evening made a brighter start at their Sincil Bank home. Crewe had to survive an early free-kick and Matthew Saunders also dragged a harmless shot well wide of Steve Phillips' left hand post.

It took a few minutes for Crewe to settle into their stride but the visitors were soon on top in terms of possession.Miller had an early sight of the Lincoln goal but his shot was blocked and the striker then couldn't keep another effort down enough to trouble Rob Burch in the Lincoln goal.

More good work from Miller created the first real opening of the match for his strike partner Moore on 9 minutes. James Bailey found Miller in the left channel with a sweeping pass and Miller's pull-back to Moore from the by-line was only diverted behind at the death by the experienced Ian Pearce.

Crewe were certainly looking the more threatening with defender Danny O'Donnell even getting in on the act inside the Lincoln penalty area but his shot was blocked by Saunders.

Miller was in excellent early form and a superb run from deep created the best chance of the opening 15 minutes. After picking up the ball in his own half, Miller drifted past Lincoln challenges before slotting Moore in on goal. The Lincoln keeper Burch read the impending danger well and rushed to block Moore's toe-poke with his legs.

That opening for the visitors sparked some life into Lincoln as an attacking force and the on-loan Chris Herd here from Aston Villa drilled a well struck shot from 25 yards just wide of Phillips' goal. Drewe Broughton then headed just over the Crewe bar after Pearce had won the initial header following a free-kick. The Imps were certainly being more adventurous than they were at Gresty Road earlier in the season when neither side created too much.

Crewe had a succession of corners and free-kicks but a lack of variation made it too easy for Lincoln City to defend. A Crewe head failed to get on any of Westwood's centres in the first half.

Five minutes before the break, Lincoln so nearly took the lead with an ambitious effort from Saunders. The midfielder struck a fine shot from 35 yards that thumped the Crewe post. Phillips had stretched for it and was relieved to see the woodwork save him.

Amazingly, Crewe then went up and hit the post themselves just three minutes later. Crewe kept possession well in-and-around the Lincoln penalty area through Moore, Walton and Brayford and the full-backs' cross to the far post found Grant up against Moses Swaibu. Grant's sharp turn put him through on goal and his powerful shot hit the post. The loose ball found the supportive Brayford but he lashed the follow-up shot over the bar.

Crewe didn't come out for the second half in the same vein as they had finished the first half and we would find ourselves behind within 60 seconds. Saunders hit a longish ball over the top of Harry Worley for Davide Somma to race in behind. Somma's fiercely struck shot from 25 yards clipped the post to give Phillips no chance. Crewe had fallen behind again.

The Alex tried to hit back almost instantly but Bailey's well-struck shot was saved by Burch. Miler tried to get onto the rebound but it was smuggled behind for another corner to the Railwaymen.

Minutes later, Bailey shot just over from the edge of the Lincoln City box after some committed tackles in the centre of the pitch had seen Crewe regain possession. Lincoln thought they should have been awarded a free-kick in the build up to Bailey's effort, but the referee had waved play on.

Lincoln had a golden chance to double their lead on the hour mark after Somma released Herd through on goal. On this occasion, Phillips stood up well to make a one-handed save and Worley completed the clearance. It was a let off for the Alex.

The home side, in their search for a second goal, drew another save from Philips through Herd and then Bailey was well placed to get a Broughton header off the line. At this stage, the Imps looked the more likely side to score again.

On 67 minutes, Dario made a change with Donaldson replacing midfielder Walton. That meant a change in formation with 4-3-3 replacing 4-4-2. Donaldson occupied the left hand side.The replacement striker should have equalised with his very first touch of the ball. Good work from Grant and Westwood found Donaldson just outside of the 6-yard box, but his flicked effort was saved again by the legs of Burch.

The injection of Donaldson in a front three certainly saw Lincoln sit back more and Crewe began to dominate possession. Brayford was again denied by a smart save by Burch. The right back had caught his shot sweet and it travelled through a couple of players in front of the Lincoln goalkeeper. Grant then thumped a shot at the far post against Herd.

The pressure finally paid off for the Alex with six minutes to go. Crewe were patient in their build up with Bailey clipping a ball towards the far post for Miller to contest with Moses Swaibu and as the ball broke loose, Moore pounced first to lift the ball back into towards Miller, who converted on the turn from close range. It was no more than Crewe had deserved for their possession and probing.

Crewe finished strongly and continued to load the Lincoln penalty area with players and usually the ball. Bailey had the best chance to win it but again couldn't keep the shot down. He has never had so many shots in the same game.