Crewe Alexandra's poor recent form continued with a 5-3 battering at Accrington Stanley in this Friday night shocker at the Crown Ground Stadium. Crewe never really recovered from a nightmarish opening five minutes which saw Robbie Grant and then Michael Symes give Stanley an unbelievable start.

Crewe did create a number of decent chances before Joel Grant gave us a lifeline on the verge of the half-time whistle via a deflection off of the boot of Tony Lees.

Just when you thought Crewe would go on and press the initiative in the second period, the recalled Danny O'Donnell under-hit a back pass to his goalkeeper Steve Collis and Grant raced through to guide home his second goal of the evening.

It got worse for the Alex too, with Accrington's captain Andrew Proctor and then Symes adding further goals as Crewe committed defensive suicide. Crewe never got going after making such an abysmal start to the night.

Grant and sub Luke Murphy added late goals as mere consolations - but that is all it was on a night to forget for the Alex.

Crewe Alexandra boss made four changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Aldershot last weekend. One was enforced upon him with David Button struggling over the last couple of days with a sore back. Steve Collis returned to the starting line-up with Adam Legzdins on the substitutes bench after last appearing against Stockport County in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Also out of the starting XI went defender Patrick Ada, young Ashley Westwood, who had made a promising full debut against the Shots last weekend and forward Anthony Elding. Both Ada and Westwood were included on the bench, but Elding didn't travel after bruising his foot in training.

Steven Schumacher returned to central midfield as did Danny O'Donnell for only his second appearance of the season. He previously started the opening game of season against Dagenham and Redbridge.

Crewe also welcomed back Mat Mitchel-King just three weeks after he injured his lower back in that cup exit to Stockport.

Accrington Stanley had three former Crewe players in their ranks with Darren Kempson, Michael Symes and John Miles all staring at the Crown Ground Stadium for the home side.

It didn't take the home side more than three minutes to open the scoring and it came from nowhere. Crewe failed to deal properly with a long punt up field from Stanley keeper Alan Martin and after the ball found itself to the wing and Bobby Grant, his lofted shot sailed over Collis' head and into the top corner.

Just a couple of minutes later, the home side doubled their lead following a dreadful clearance from the Alex keeper. He simply surrendered possession to Michael Symes and the former Alex loanee gratefully over the stranded Collis. Crewe were 2-0 behind and the fans behind Collis' goal were absolutely shell shocked. It was the worse possible start.

With Crewe still not awake, Symes then smacked a shot into the advertising hoarding as the visitors tried to get any sort of foothold in the game.

Crewe's first chance of the evening came on 17 minutes through current leading scorer Calvin Zola. A good passing move involving Miller and Brayford saw the towering Alex striker head just a yard or so wide of the left hand post. Moments later, Schumacher drilled a shot into the mid-drift of the Accrington keeper Alan Martin from around 20 yards out.

The home keeper was called into action with Mat Mitchel-King forcing him into another decent save after Crewe had worked the ball well in-and-around the Accrington penalty area. After such an appalling start to the game, it was better from the Alex.

On 24 minutes, Crewe should have at halved the deficit after John Brayford forced Dean Winnard into a mistake. Brayford's closing down saw him block Winnard's clearance up field and the deflection sent Zola through on goal. After racing clear, Zola dragged his shot frustratingly wide of the target.

Only a couple of minutes later, Winnard, nearly made up for his mistake in defence when Luke Joyce headed his accurate cross just wide of the target. The busy Accrington defender certainly redeemed himself when clearing a goalbound effort from Miller. The Crewe striker had bravely put his head onto a cross from Billy Jones - but after his touch had taken it past Martin, his centre-half recovered well to clear from the line. Crewe were getting closer to a reprieve.

Crewe did get themselves back into the game just before half time following a piece of sublime skill from winger Joel Grant. He pulled down a long ball from Brayford, before turning back inside centre-back Tom Lees to set himself up for a shot. His effort took a wicked deflection off of the boot of Lees and spun inside the post. It was just the tonic Crewe needed going in at the interval.

Crewe certainly made a more encouraging start to the second half to the first with defender Harry Worley trying his luck from distance and Miller not quite getting hold his shot after racing speedily onto a long ball from O'Donnell.

Despite that early positive start, Crewe yet again shot themselves in the foot when O'Donnell's back pass didn't have the legs to run through to his goalkeeper. Collis was caught in two minds, didn't come for it and Grant gleefully raced through to side foot his shot past the Alex keeper. You just cannot afford to give goals away so cheaply no matter what level of football you play at.

Crewe were chasing two goals again and that prompted a change with Moore replacing O'Donnell. Accrington also made a substitution with Chris Turner replacing Jimmy Ryan.

It made no difference because Stanley increased their lead to 4-1 on 68 minutes when their captain Andrew Proctor raced into the box and fired past Collis. The power took it through the Alex goalkeeper and the match was over as a contest.

If was well and truly over on ten minutes though when Symes raced onto a through ball from the impressive Miles to guide his shot into the bottom corner. It was incredible stuff for Stanley, who thoroughly deserved their victory. Crewe were out of sorts and ideas to say the least.

Thordarson tried to offer some inspiration by introducing Luke Murphy for Walton. With 9 minutes left, Grant got another goal from close range after Mat Mitchel-King had drilled a corner back into a crowded penalty area. Now quite bizarrely there were three players on the pitch, who were one goal off claiming a hat-trick.

In the closing stages Symes nearly grabbed the matchball but Collis was able to tip his cross come shot over the bar. Miles also forced the Alex keeper into a late save as we looked like being caught out again on the break.

In injury time, Luke Murphy demonstated his talent with a superb strike from 20 yards out but considering the situation the celebration was muted. It was a wonderful strike though from the Alex youngster.

2, 764 watched it and it was hardly surprising that the Alex faithful vented their anger at the final whistle after travelling to Lancashire on this Friday night to see their club produce such a poor performance.