Calvin Zola and Joel Grant returned from recent injuries to terrorise bottom of the table Darlington at the Alexandra Stadium. The Alex were 3-0 up at the half-time interval and it is no exaggeration to suggest that it could and should have been double that after Clayton Donaldson and Zola also hit the top of the crossbar.
Zola retuned to the Crewe Alexandra line-up after missing the last two games with an eye injury sustained in a freakish training ground accident. Winger Joel Grant also returned for his first start since Boxing Day when he strained ligaments in his foot during the 2-2 draw with Rochdale.
The unlucky ones to drop out this afternoon were Shaun Miller and Luke Murphy. They were both named on a strong-looking substitutes bench, which also included Carl Martin, who made his debut for the club away at Hereford United on Tuesday evening.
Crewe, playing their first home game since Boxing Day, started very brightly and could have taken the lead in the opening couple of minutes when Alan White deflected a touch from Grant just behind his own post.
From the resultant corner, Westwood's initial delivery was cleared but after it re-entered the box, Zola was unfortunate to see his close range effort strike the crossbar. The Darlington keeper, Nick Liversedge, who would be kept busy for much of the afternoon was certainly beaten.
The visitors, who had impressively beaten Rotherham United on Tuesday night, were mostly on the back foot at a misty Gresty Road. They couldn't live with Crewe's sharp one touch football. Steven Schumacher deployed on the right of midfield ahead of Murphy, had an early shot deflected behind after being found superbly by Simon Walton with a clever pass inside the box.
With Crewe almost attacking at will, Westwood couldn't keep his shot down after he had collected a blocked shot from Donaldson. Mat Mitchel-King fired another Westwood corner just over the bar as well after Liversedge had come for a cross and made a mess of trying to collect it.
A defensive mix-up in the Darlington defence on 12 minutes saw captain Ian Miller and the jittery Liversedge leave a bouncing ball for each other and Donaldson's pace saw him reach the ball first. He was unlucky to see his shot go through the hands of the Hereford keeper but thump the bar for the second time. Thankfully, it wouldn't prove to be one of those days for the Railwaymen.
Going forward, Darlington's new signing from Ireland Tadhg Purcell was their main threat. He scooped a corner over the bar when he should have at least hit the target and he forced Steve Phillips into action when a loose ball nearly broke to him inside the six-yard box.
The only downside to an impressive first-half was losing our captain Mitchel-King because of injury after he landed awkwardly. He was replaced by Harry Worley, for his first inclusion since that 4-1 defeat at Macclesfield.
Crewe were playing some wonderful football and Darlington couldn't live with the pace and movement of our front three. It took until the 24th minute for the Alex to finally take the lead. Darlington were lucky to smuggle Zola's first goal bound effort of the line but the club's leading scorer was alert enough when the ball was returned to him in the second phase of play.
Westwood's floated the ball back into the box and after finding it's way, Zola made no mistake to score his 15th goal of an excellent campaign. It was no more than Crewe had deserved for their attacking endeavour.
Donaldson should have doubled the lead just three minutes later, but to his credit the busy Liversedge stood up well to push his effort behind for another corner.
The pressure finally did tell again just after the half an hour mark. Schumacher played Zola down the wing and after the towering striker had tricked his way past centre-half Alan White his intended cross for Donaldson eventually reached Joel Grant at the far past and he gratefully guided home his 7th goal of the season.
Darlington's best bit of football came soon after Crewe's second goal and after a forceful run from Mor Diop, John Brayford did well to apply a necessary block to Purcell's low shot.
Crewe's third goal came on 33 minutes with Westwood picking out Zola at the far post. The Congolese striker jumped unopposed to nod home his 16th goal of the season to put Crewe firmly in the driving seat going into the interval.
In an attempt to give themselves something to build on in the second half, Gareth Waite shot straight at Phillips, but it was Crewe who could have added to their overall tally. Westwood, leaning back fired a pull back from Grant way over the bar and Donaldson did likewise after Zola had poked possession to him on the edge of the box.
Grant nearly rounded off an impressive individual display with a wonderful run from deep. After a couple of trademark stepovers his curling shot was tipped around the post by Liversedge, who would have been grateful for the half time whistle and a rest.
The second half never lived up to the first half in terms of chances created. Steven Staunton was clearly not pleased with his side's first half performance and he made three changes at the break with Josh Gray, Paddy Dean and Curtis Main coming on for Paul Arnison, Jeff Smith and Gary Smith.
Darlington did enjoy more of the possession in the opening exchanges of the second half but never really rested Steve Phillips enough to look like mounting a tremendous comeback. They did pass the ball better but the Crewe defence stood firm enough to earn a deserved clean-sheet.
On the hour mark and with Donaldson looking as though he was carrying a hip injury was replaced by Shaun Miller. The lively youngster was soon into action when being put through by Joel Grant but a timely tackle from Alan White prevented him from getting a shot off. It was a superb tackle.
Darlington did have a glorious chance to get on the score sheet on 65 minutes when some indecisive defending between the centre-halves and Phillips, allowed Diop to have a sight at goal but he guided his shot just wide with just the Alex keeper to beat. It was a decent chance for the visitors.
Worley tried to liven the game up with an ambitious shot from 30 yards after breaking forward from the half way line but the half was scrappy and Darlington were certainly more difficult to break down. They looked more organised without being too much of a threat themselves.
Grant's last contribution saw him drill a shot into the side netting after Miller had played him in. It was Grant's last contribution in the game as his tiring legs were replaced by Danny Shelley.
The youngster from Endon had a late shot blocked from the edge of the box but the second half was fairly comfortable for the Railwaymen who recorded their first win in four games and their first in 2010.
