Crewe Alexandra exited the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the first round stage this evening and only had themselves to blame. In promising spells, the Railwaymen played some decent stuff but shot themselves firmly in the foot with the three goals we conceded in the first half. Take nothing away from Stockport County who thoroughly deserved their victory - but they didn't have to work overly hard for their goals.

Two goals stemmed from Michael Rose corners with Adam Legzdins not getting enough purchase on his clearance whilst under pressure from striker Nicholas Bignall. He failed to get enough power on a punch for Carl Baker to toe poke the opening goal home after just 8 minutes.

He then fumbled another Rose corner at the feet of the grateful Stockport County striker and he helped himself to his second goal on the night on 33 minutes. His last touch of the evening would see him claim the matchball deep into injury time.

Things got worse for the home side when a long ball gave Stockport's new loan signing from Reading, Bignall, a foot race with the Crewe Alexandra substitute and debutant Simon Walton, and after out muscling the emergency centre-half he slotted home a debut goal past the helpless Legzdins on 41 minutes.

Crewe didn't look three goals worse than Stockport in the first period because we created a fair share of opportunities with Calvin Zola again having the majority of the chances. The Congolese striker struck an early shot at the legs of John Mullins before Stockport went ahead. He also just missed out on reaching a cross from Moore.

The opening goal arrived after Harry Worley had given possession away too cheaply and from the resultant corner won by James Vincent, Legzdins didn't get enough on his punch and Baker helped himself to his first of what was going to be a hat-trick.

Crewe didn't let that early set back break their focus and they continued to press forward. Brayford stumbled at the key moment after a probing run and pass from Moore. Brayford slipped over on too many occasions this evening, especially in the first half.

On 15 minutes, Worley headed against Lloyd Rigby's crossbar following Billy Jones's superb free kick delivery into a crowded penalty area and after a promising run into the box onto another Moore pass, Steven Schumacher slipped at the crucial moment and couldn't quite generate enough power to trouble Rigby.

Moments later a fine drive from Billy Jones was pushed away for a corner by the agile Rigby, who had been selected ahead of the rested Owain fon Williams, formerly of Crewe Alexandra. The young Welshman was rested by the Stockport boss Gary Ablett.

Stockport were always neat and tidy in possession with Legzdins tipping over a drive from full-back Michael Rose after he had been gifted the ball by the retreating Moore.

Just before the half an hour mark, Zola was rather unlucky not to bring a Brayford down on his chest inside the box and Grant had a shot on the turn deflected behind for another Crewe corner. Crewe were very much conjuring up chances but couldn't find that killer instinct to really trouble the Hatters keeper.

The evening then turned into an absolute disaster when Mat Mitchel-King was forced off with a lower back injury. Walton was given his debut at centre-back.

A couple of minutes later, Legzdins failed to grasp a Rose corner and there was the poacher Baker to take full advantage.Crewe were 2-0 down and had gifted the visitors their advantage.

With the comfort of a second goal, their confidence grew and after Rose had a shot tipped over the bar by Crewe's keeper, the pacy Bignall latched on to a long through ball and after holding off the intentions of Walton, he calmly slotted past the helpless Crewe keeper for a 3-0 half-time lead.

With the cup-tie almost over as a contest, at least Crewe came out in the second half and had a go to try and claw back some pride in this South Cheshire derby. The former Stockport forward Anthony Elding was certainly up for the challenge and worked tirelessly for the cause to try and make things happen. It didn't always come off but the work ethic was there in abundance.

Moore found Elding early on and only the quick reactions of Rigby prevented him from getting a clear run on goal. The Stockport keeper evacuating his line to smother the danger. Moments later, a strange melee inside the Stockport box occurred after a Jones cross hit Worley's boot to sent the ball spinning into the air. Again, Ridgby was alert to push the ball away from the head of the leaping Zola.

Crewe thought they had given themselves a lifeline back into the game on 55 minutes when Worley stuck his head onto a drilled shot from Schumacher - but once again the game was ruled out for offside. It is now three consecutive matches that Crewe have had goals chalked off for offside!

It was encouraging from the home side though with Grant showing flashes of skill down the left wing and Walton looking like he will have a presence in our team. The on-loan Plymouth midfielder was booked for a late challenge on Rose and looked more comfortable in midfield than chasing nippy strikers at the back.

Zola headed a Jones cross into the floor and wide before Grant showed some trickery to draw another save from Rigby at the foot of his post.

At the other end, the hat-trick seeking Baker fired into the side-netting from an acute angle and the influential Liam Bridcutt shot just wide as the Hatters looked for a fourth goal.

Zola was almost always in the thick of it for Crewe. He shot wastefully over with one effort but was rather unlucky with a curling shot soon after that just lacked that real accuracy to ask questions of the Stockport keeper.

Substitute Shaun Miller injected some life into the proceedings and he shot straight at the keeper just minutes after replacing Moore.

Obviously, with the game out of reach, Crewe were only looking for a late consolation goal and Zola was rewarded for his persistence with his fifth goal of the campaign from a Jones corner. He forced Rigby into a smart save with a downward head but he responded quickly enough to lash the rebound into the top corner justly after the fourth official had held up the board indicating two minutes of stoppage time.

Remarkably, there was still time for Baker to help himself to the matchball. Crewe switched off at the back deep into injury time and the clinical Stockport striker was able to collect the ball, turn and place it beyond Legzdins for his hat-trick goal.