Crewe Alexandra hopes of making a sustained unbeaten run towards a play-off place were dented again this afternoon thanks to Bournemouth's hard-fought 2-1 win at Gresty Road. The Cherries ended a barren run of three defeats on the bounce thanks to a goal in each half from Steve Fletcher and midfielder Anton Robinson.

Crewe rallied and substitute Luke Murphy thumped a wonderful goal to give the Alex a chance going into the final 25 minutes but the Railwaymen couldn't find another goal to salvage a point.

The home side created enough opportunities throughout the 90 minutes to have obtained something from the game - but in fairness Eddie Howe's depleted squad were resilience in their defending and Crewe never really tested their goalkeeper Shwan Jalal enough in the second period. Their captain Jason Pearce was outstanding for them.

Leading goalscorer Calvin Zola had a chance in stoppage time to salvage a point but he couldn't quite keep Steven Schumacher's corner down.

As expected, in-form striker Clayton Donaldson recovered from his hip problem to retain his place for the visit of Bournemouth. Donaldson had been withdrawn just after the hour mark during last weekend's 3-0 win over Darlington, but was able to resume training later in the week.

Captain Mat Mitchel-King was ruled out with ankle ligament damage with Harry Worley stepping into the fray for his first start since Macclesfield just after Christmas.

AFC Bournemouth selected new loan signing Rhoys Wiggins but injures and a transfer embargo meant Eddie Howe could only name four substitutes on his bench this afternoon.

The cold weather was certainly back at Gresty Road this afternoon and with both teams sussing each other out in the opening 10 minutes, the atmosphere was a little flat with chances few and far between. It improved in the second half as the game opened up and became more of a spectacle.

Alex's tenacious Ashley Westwood made a bright start and was certainly in the thick of it for Crewe. He had an early shot over Shwan Jalal's crossbar and an early corner saw John Brayford have a fiercely driven shot blocked inside a crowded penalty area. It was a blow to lose Westwood after just 26 minutes of play following a collision in the centre of the pitch with Marvin Bradbury. He was caught on his foot and looks to have done ankle ligaments. Luke Murphy replaced him with Steven Schumacher, the captain for the day, moved into his more familiar central role.

Crewe had earlier lost centre-half Danny O'Donnell through injury after he had appeared to land awkwardly after heading a clearance away. He was also forced off and was replaced by home debutant Carl Martin. Martin, the youngster from Wealdstone certainly made a good enough impression on his first appearance at Gresty Road.

Dario had been forced to re-jig his team twice in the opening half an hour and just a minute after losing O'Donnell through injury, Bournemouth scored. There will certainly be an enquiry as to who was supposed to be marking the vastly experienced Steve Fletcher from the corner, because it was far too easy for the Cherries number nine to head past Steve Phillips. It was a soft goal to concede and Crewe had to try and respond.

Conceding the goal did spur Crewe into life as an attacking force. Leading scorer, Calvin Zola flicked a deep cross from Harry Worley just wide of the post and Schumacher couldn't quite keep his shot down after a promising build-up.

Bournemouth's danger man Brett Pitman volleyed an ambitious effort just wide of the mark after a wonderfully crafted move from the visitors. He also shot straight at Phillips as Eddie Howe's side looked to extend their lead before the interval.

Joel Grant always looked the most likely player to make something happen for the Alex. Just after the half an hour mark, the winger latched on to a pass from Schumacher but his shot was blocked bravely by the full-back Ryan Garry.

Murphy then picked out Zola with a clever pass into the box, but the Crewe target man was adjudged to have handed the ball and the chance was lost. He nearly made up for it just two minutes later though after he continued a purposeful run into the box from Grant. Zola collected the ball and after darting past a couple of challenges was to be denied superbly by Jalal. The Bournemouth keeper stood firm to deny him.

After riding a bit of storm from the visitors, which saw the powerful Fletcher head straight at Phillips, Schumacher who had been in-and-around the Bournemouth penalty area for a lot of the half had another shot blocked. Worley, with a late effort was way off target though.

The second half kicked off with Donaldson shooting straight at Jalal. The striker, who struggled to use his pace as much as he has in recent weeks was well marshalled by the Man-of-the-Match Jason Pearce, the captain of Bournemouth, throughout the game and would later be substituted for Shaun Miller.

Crewe were on the front foot in the second half with both Tootle and then Grant providing some dangerous looking crosses into the Bournemouth penalty area. Grant's delivery to the far post was destined for the head of Murphy but Wiggins did superbly well to flick it away from the Alex midfielder at the last moment for a corner.

A feisty Schumacher was booked for a tackle on Wiggins. The reaction of the Bournemouth players around the referee certainly didn't help his cause either.

The visitors went further ahead on 63 minutes with the Bournemouth front pair Fletcher and Pitman combining again to open up the Crewe defence. Fletcher used his body strength up against Worley to put Pitman through and although Phillips saved his effort, the supportive Robinson was on hand to guide home the rebound into the unguarded net.

Crewe responded well again though and Murphy's fantastic strike from the edge of the box gave Jalal absolutely no chance. He didn't move as his shot whistled past him. It was game on again.

Pitman, may not have scored this afternoon but he was a constant threat on the counter attack. He turned a Feeney cross just wide of the mark and then curled another effort a yard or so wide. He showed his quality again to turn Worley, and couldn't quite believe that the Crewe defender recovered to stick a boot on his shot.

With Crewe looking for an equaliser, a loose ball from Grant on the half way life put Brayford in trouble up against the speedy Feeney but he shot just over.

Crewe continued to press forward and Bournemouth tried to ride the storm a little by delaying the play. They were holding on in the closing stages, but again Crewe didn't conjure up a real chance to draw level.

With time running out, Zola elected to pass a Tootle cross on rather than shoot inside the 6-yard box and a late bouncing ball just wouldn't fall kindly enough for Schumacher to truly hit it.

A late corner saw Zola head just over the bar from a Schumacher cross but in truth Pitman had a chance to kill it when he was left one-on-one with Martin but the impressive forward dragged his shot wide of Steve Phillips' right hand post.