Morecambe recorded their first away win of the season, as first half goals from captain Jim Bentley and the on-loan Phil Jevons was enough to see off Crewe. Dario Gradi is still awaiting his first home win since taking over from Gudjon Thordarson in early October. The Railwaymen have now lost their last four home games and that is relegation form more than potential play-off candidates. The result puts us 18th in Coca-Cola League Two.
Crewe vastly improved in the second half with Joel Grant more in the game and substitutes Steven Schumacher and Luke Murphy lifting the tempo. Schumacher headed home an Ashley Westwood cross with 12 minutes left on the clock to give us hope, but Morecambe kept the ball and kept the three points.
Crewe Alexandra's defensive frailties reared its ugly head again after just 4 minutes when we yet again conceded from a corner. Michael Twiss, once a youth player at Manchester United aimed his delivery to his far post and the Morecambe captain Jim Bentley nodded home his second goal of the season. It was another soft goal to concede.
After the early set-back, Crewe soon conjured their first opportunity on goal after Bailey's played in Brayford with an intelligent pass. The right-back thundered forward but dragged his shot just wide of Barry Roche's post.
The visitors lost their goalscorer Bentley early, just minutes after he had headed another corner into the floor. A twinge in his leg meant an early appearance for the former Oldham Athletic man Will Haining.
Ashley Westwood, at left full-back, was constantly the best provider of quality crosses into the opposition penalty area. His dangerous deliveries just missed out Zola and Shelley at the far post. Brayford also got his head on one but couldn't direct it on target.
Westwood also clipped a direct free-kick from 25 yards out over the Morecambe crossbar as Crewe tried to find an equaliser. The Alex were good in spells but also over hit too many long balls. We were by-passing midfield far too much and Joel Grant was struggling to have a creative impact on the game.
Morecambe had to soak up a lot of continued pressure from the home side but were fairly comfortable with Artell and substitute Haining dealing with the threat of Zola in the air. As an attacking force, Ian Craney delivered a superb cross that evaded everyone inside a crowded penalty area. The quality of his delivery caught his own team-mates out!
Just after the half an hour mark, Zola volleyed a James Bailey cross into the mid-drift of Roche and then the Morecambe keeper was grateful to his centre-half David Artell for cutting out a dangerous cross from Zola, with Moore lurking in behind.
At that stage, Crewe were on top and looked the more likely side to score the second goal but somewhat against the run of play, it was the Shrimpers' scoring a decisive second goal. The vastly experienced Jevons was given far too much time and space inside the Crewe penalty area and his sharp turn and shot left Steve Phillips helpless. The Alex defence had stood off the on-loan Huddersfield man and Jevons didn't need an invitation to get his shot off.
Crewe found themselves 2-0 down and struggling in the Cheshire drizzle but could have still gone in at the interval on level terms. Morecambe had their goalkeeper Roche to thank for making a smart save with his feet to deny Moore and then he tipped a fine effort form Grant over his bar.
The second half kicked off with Zola forcing Roche into another routine save early on. At the other end the impressive Craney tried to catch Phillips off his line with an attempted chip. It didn't have enough legs.
Crewe then lost right back John Brayford with a shoulder injury and that meant a switch around with Bailey going right back and Schumacher coming on. He certainly gave Crewe a lift, as did Murphy when he came on for Shelley just minutes later.
On the hour mark, Mat Mitchel-King attempted an overhead kick from a corner before Moore did have the ball in the net after a flowing move involving Schumacher, and the much better Grant.
As Crewe pressed looking for a lifeline, Zola headed another corner onto the top of the netting before Grant came off his touchline and fired wide.
With 20 minutes remaining, Crewe nearly killed themselves off when Phillips' stray clearance landed straight at the feet of Twiss, close to the touchline. His instant shot over the head of the stranded Crewe keeper looked like it was going to go in, only to clip the post and stay out. It was one almighty let off.
Luke Murphy was prepared to shoot on sight. He send one just over the top of Roche's bar and Westwood dragged a shot wide of the mark.
Crewe deserved a goal for their second half performance and it duly arrived on 78 minutes. Grant did well to rob full-back Andy Parrish of possession and his persistence paid off as he got possession to arguably Crewe's best performer on the day Westwood. His tempting cross to the far post was headed home by Schumacher for his 5th goal of the campaign to set up a grandstand finish.
That prompted a change form Dario with Zola coming off for the more pacy Donaldson. Crewe were trying to exploit Morecambe's tiring legs at the back.
To their credit though, Morecambe intelligently kept possession and our chances were few far and far between in the closing stages. Murphy shot straight at the Roche, which could have caused some problems in the wet conditions and Morecambe survived a late scramble to hold onto the points.
