Target man Calvin Zola proved he can be a match winner for Crewe this season by scoring a well-taken brace at Blundell Park this afternoon. The Congolese striker hooked home a first from a Joel Grant cross to open the scoring on 34 minutes. Ten minutes later, he beat Grimsby Town's on-loan goalkeeper Tommy Forecast to head home a Byron Moore cross to put Crewe firmly in the driving seat at the half-time interval.

The match as a contest was concluded within 60 seconds of the restart after Byron Moore was bundled over in the box by Nick Hegarty. Crewe's captain Billy Jones made no mistake from the penalty spot and Crewe had their first three league points since early March.  

A perfect afternoon was wrapped up in stoppage time when Moore tapped home his second goal of the season after Aman Verma had seen his superbly struck free-kick pushed onto the post by Tommy Forecast.

Crewe Alexandra manager Gudjon Thordarson made four changes from the side that narrowly lost 2-1 at home to Blackpool on Tuesday evening in the Carling Cup. Youngsters Ashley Westwood, Luke Murphy and the injured James Bailey dropped out of the side, with loan signing Aman Verma and Steven Schumacher starting at Blundell Park.

New loan defender Harry Worley made his debut after completing his six-month loan deal yesterday morning as Thordarson switched to three central defenders and a wing-back system.

There was also a change in goal with David Button shaking off a slight knee injury to resume duties as number one ahead of Adam Legzdins.

After just three minutes of play, it was Crewe midfielder Steven Schumacher who had the first sight of goal following a promising build-up involving Joel Grant. From the edge of the Grimsby penalty area, Schumacher didn't catch the shot well enough to test Grimsby's debutant goalkeeper Tommy Forecast and the midfielder could have played the onrushing John Brayford in on the right if he had seen him.

Verma, who had replaced the injured Bailey on Tuesday evening, to play the second half against Blackpool was prepared to run at the opposition back-line whenever the opportunity presented itself. He won an early free kick but on this occasion Verma's Leicester team-mate Harry Worley was ruled off for offside after Billy Jones had swung in the cross into a crowded penalty area.

After 10 minutes, Jones was creating again, playing Moore in superbly with another accurate cross but just as the Crewe winger was about to pull the trigger, the recovering Rob Atkinson just got enough on it to block the shot just inside the 6-yard box.

Crewe were certainly on top of the proceedings in the opening period of the game, forcing a couple of corners and causing some goalmouth scrambling from the home side.

Grimsby soon established some possession of their own and Nick Hegarty sliced a shot over David Button's crossbar from 25 yards after Crewe had failed to clear their lines with any real conviction.

After Verma had won another free kick with some more intelligent trickery, Billy Jones's clipped ball to the far post was drilled into the side netting by Brayford. As it was such an acute angle, it was only a half chance for Crewe's energetic full-back.

Crewe Alexandra's captain Billy Jones was the first player to be cautioned following a lunging tackle on Josh Fuller. Moments later, Grimsby's keeper Forecast was rather unfortunate not to punished for misjudging the flight of a long throw from Jones. Atkinson came to his rescue at the far post to head clear.

After half an hour, Grimsby were forced into a change with JL Akpa Akpro forced off with an injury. The vastly experienced striker Adam Proudlock replaced him.

Three minutes later, Crewe took a rather deserved lead after a swift counter-attack left Grimsby unorganised at the back. Schumacher played in Joel Grant behind the Grimsby back-line and after his pace took him clear, his cross found the chest of Calvin Zola inside the 6-yard box. The Congolese striker turned and looped a shot over Forecast. If it hadn't already crossed the line as Atkinson tried to clear, then Schumacher made sure. As a striker Zola will be credited with the goal.

Grimsby nearly hit back straight away from a corner. After Crewe keeper David Button was put under severe pressure and could only punch the ball clear, a low shot from sub Proudlock had to be hacked from the line by the well-placed Brayford.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Zola nearly repaid Grant the favour with a clever pass into his support partner. After he had twisted and turned on the edge of the Grimsby box, Grant was rather unfortunate not to get his shot on target because if he had, a poorly positioned Forecast would have been beaten. As it was, with Forecast completely stranded, Grant's drifted just past the right hand post.

Crewe certainly looked the side more likely to score another before the half-time interval. Grimsby were certainly more welcoming for the referee's whistle that was for sure but they wouldn't survive without conceding another.

Target man Zola headed home his second goal on 44 minutes after Forecast was again hesitant in coming for a Byron Moore cross. Zola bravely got ahead of the Grimsby keeper to head home his third goal of the season and put Crewe firmly in the driving seat at Blundell Park.

Crewe went in deservedly 2-0 ahead after having to survive a late free-kick from Barry Conlon from the edge of the Alex box. He drilled his low into the legs of Mat Mitchel-King.

It didn't take Crewe too long to wrap up the three points after Moore won a penalty in the opening 60 seconds of the second period. Moore's pace took him clear and as he was about to shoot, Nick Hegarty pushed him in the back. The referee had no hesitation and Billy Jones smashed home the spot-kick.

That proved to be Hegarty's last contribution of the afternoon, as he was quickly withdrawn for Peter Sweeney. Josh Fuller also made way for Danny North.

It was Crewe though who continued to look the most threatening. On 51 minutes, Schumacher had a 'goal' chalked off for offside after Grant had cleverly let a Zola cross run through to Moore, who drew a save from the legs of Forecast. It would have been a tight decision as Schumacher had been on hand to guide the loose ball into the empty net.

Zola's first opportunity for his first senior hat-trick saw him shoot into the side netting after the legs of Forecast had again denied the busy Moore. Zola reached the rebound first but from an acute angle could only screw it into the side netting in front of the travelling Alex fans behind that very goal.

Just before the hour mark, the confident Zola came inches to the matchball after being sent clear superbly by Jones. Zola used his man marker in front of him as a disguise before curling a 20-yard shot just over the bar. It was unlucky to say the least.

In reply to Crewe's dominance, Grimsby's efforts on our goal were few and far between, but the excellent Mitchel-King was called into action to block a shot from Danny Boshell.

With 27 minutes left on the clock, Gudjon Thordarson made his first change of the afternoon with Grant coming off for Clayton Donaldson. Donaldson should have got himself on the scoresheet shortly after his introduction after being sent clear by Schumacher. Donaldson shaped himself perfectly but shot at the legs of Forecast.

Zola's afternoon ended with 20 minutes remaining and he deservedly left the field to warm applause following his two match winning goals. Anthony Elding came on in search of goals.

Grimsby hit the woodwork on 73 minutes through defender Ryan Bennett. He headed a Boshell corner against a Crewe post. It just wasn't their day.

Ashley Westwood was introduced for Schumacher with just over 15 minutes left.

The only surprising factor of the second half was that it took Crewe until stoppage time to grab another. Verma won a late free-kick and took it himself. His superbly struck effort from 25 yards was pushed onto the post by Tommy Forecast and Byron Moore was on hand to tap home into the empty net for his second goal of the season.

Grimsby: Forecast, Stockdale, Widdowson, Bennett, Conlon, Boshell, Hegarty (Sweeney), Leary, Atkinson, Akpro (Proudlock), Fuller (North)