A fourth consecutive defeat for Crewe Alexandra had them peering over their shoulders at other results involving teams at the bottom of League Two, especially with those below them in 15th place scrapping for their league survival. Crewe didn't too themselves any favours in their quest to avoid being dragged into a late relegation battle here this evening with Bury's strike partner Andy Morrell and our former player Ryan Lowe inflicting the damage in either half before substitute Andy Bishop rounded off the scoring with three minutes remaining.
Before Morrell's opener on the half an hour mark, Crewe should really have taken the lead when Clayton Donaldson had two bites of the cherry after some superb wing play from his close pal Joel Grant. How Donaldson didn't convert the first one from six yards was down to some fine goalkeeping from Cameron Belford before his follow-up effort struck the crossbar and bounced to safety.
The Alex did play some good football this evening with Grant going close and John Brayford forcing a good save from the recalled Belford but they again were as clinical as the home side.
With a full programme taking place in League Two, attention at the final whistle turned to results elsewhere and with Grimsby being held at home by Chesterfield, Crewe are at least safe but they know they shouldn't have to be relying on the fate of others.
Dario Gradi was forced into two changes from the side that lost to Shrewsbury Town at the weekend. Defender Carl Martin and midfielder James Bailey were unable to shake off their slight injuries and were ruled out of the trip to Gigg Lane. Harry Worley, who replaced Martin on Saturday, was recalled to the starting line-up. Luke Murphy was included in midfield as Crewe reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation. Shaun Miller, who made a late substitute appearance against the Shrews was given the nod ahead of Calvin Zola, who was back on the bench after making his first start since January at the weekend.
Young Under-18 goalkeeper Daniel Platt was named on the substitutes' bench for the first time in his career due to a slight injury to Adam Legzdins. Platt was a last minute addition to the squad and was handed the number 36 shirt.
There was an early stoppage in the play when Bury's captain Stephen Dawson collapsed just three minutes into the game following an accidental clash with Ashley Westwood. The midfielder needed lengthy attention but managed to return to the action a few minutes later.
The short delay didn't unsettle the home side who conjured up the first meaningful attack after 7 minutes but the experienced Andy Morrell couldn't direct his header goalwards to draw a save from Crewe goalkeeper Steve Phillips.
Then there was another brief stoppage in play after Worley received a bang on his head from our former striker Ryan Lowe. Worley was soon back in play. After a rather slow start to the game, Bury began to get a foothold on the game and began to pressurise the Crewe back four with early balls forward looking for the timely runs of Lowe and his partner Morrell. The visitors were looking to hit the Shakers on the break and exploit the pace of Donaldson and Miller but were not hitting their intended targets nearly enough.
Lowe tried to livened things up with a shot from distance but it was well wide of Phillips' left hand post. The clever striker though had shown great skill to deceive John Brayford. Another former favourite Efe Sodje did have the ball in the net on 18 minutes after forcing home a deep free-kick but more with his hand than anything else. The assistant's flag went up very early to rule the goal out.
Crewe's front two did combine well on 24 minutes with Miller releasing Donaldson up against the Nigerian Sodje. The Alex striker cut in from the edge of the box and his low shot did draw the first save of the evening from Bury's goalkeeper Cameron Belford.Almost immediately, Bury's Michael Jones did the same at the other end but the well positioned Phillips applied two firm fists to push it away.
Donaldson should have given Crewe the lead on 27 minutes after some great wing play from Joel Grant. The Jamaican youngster tricked his way to the by-line before cutting back the perfect ball for first Miller, who missed it, and then Donaldson who couldn't believe his initial effort was blocked on the line by Ryan Cresswell and keeper Belford. The striker was then left completely bemused when his follow up effort hit the crossbar!
Two minutes later and Morrell thumped Bury into the lead from 12 yards out after a neat one-two with Lowe on the edge of the Crewe penalty area. Morrell's well stuck shot flew past Phillips and once again Crewe had slipped behind after wasting a golden opportunity just minutes before.
Saying that, the Alex, had a good case for a penalty when full-back Scott wrapped himself around Grant inside the penalty area but you just don't seem to get those decisions for holding infringements.
Alan Knill's Bury side were looking to move back into the play-off positions this evening were lifted by the opening goal and David Worrell swapped wings to test Phillips with a firmly struck shot.
Crewe were still posing a threat on the break with Grant a good outlet on the left. He certainly had the beating of his opposite number Paul Scott and after he had latched onto a fine ball from Steven Schumacher, his powerful shot was blocked by the knee of Sodje. If the bandana one hadn't bravely stood tall, Grant's shot would certainly have asked questions of keeper Belford. It was encouraging stuff from the Alex, who had began to play some really good football and they looked like they would get some joy with the pace of the front two and the impact of Grant.
As the half drew to a close, Westwood drilled a better corner into the Bury box and situated at the far post was Miller, who was unfortunate to see his shot on the turn deflected onto the top of the netting.
The second half certainly began with a bang with Lowe's fabulous finish to beat Phillips. After collecting a centre from Morrell on his chest, his controlled half volley just three minutes into the half gave the Alex keeper no chance and Crewe faced an almighty struggle to get anything from this game. It was Lowe's 17th goal of the season for the Shakers.
Morrell nearly made it 3-0 just minutes later with another acrobatic effort but fortunately it bounced a yard wide of the right hand post.
In response, Schumacher shot wide of the mark after a fine run in behind from Donaldson. Schumacher was left disappointed because he didn't catch his shot as well as he would have liked from the edge of the Bury box. What was evident though, that the Alex forwards could cause damage if they received the right service. Murphy, very nearly produced the long pass of the night to find Donaldson in behind Sodje but the Bury goalkeeper Belford read the situation to avert the danger.
With 24 minutes left, Dario introduced Zola for Miller. Bury also made a change with Dawson making way for Tom Newey.
Murphy then found Donaldson down the Bury left and after he had cut in from the wing, his pass into Brayford saw the right-back force Belford into a smart save. The Bury goalkeeper pushed the effort away and Zola couldn't quite adjust his feet properly to maybe get onto the loose ball and it flashed harmlessly past him. A goal at that stage could have changed the whole complexion of the final 15 minutes, especially with Bury going for a top 7 spot.
Grant forced another save from Belford at his near post and from the resultant corner, Worley flicked Westwood's centre over the bar.
To freshen up his attack, Knill replaced Morrell with Andy Bishop. It took a full-back though to register their next effort at the Crewe goal with Scott's shot hitting the back of Worley.
Bishop managed to get himself on the scoresheet with three minutes remaining, he was given the freedom of Bury to turn and shoot past Phillips, who did get something on the shot but couldn't prevent it crossing the line. It was Crewe's second consecutive 3-0 defeat.
