Dario Gradi spoke in the week about the thinness of the dividing line between winning and losing. That was certainly the case again at Whaddon Road this afternoon in what proved to be a topsy-turvy affair that could have gone either way. It was the home side enjoying the better of the luck on the day though to emerge victorious thanks to a winning goal in five from Jeff Goulding.

Crewe had been handed the perfect start with Patrick Ada's wonderful opening goal after just 4 minutes but Cheltenham deservedly found themselves 2-1 ahead at the break thanks to a brace from the impressive Wesley Thomas.

Calvin Zola headed Crewe level again just four minutes into the second half only for Goulding to settle it on 62 minutes after Thomas had skipped past Ada.

Crewe will feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty when Matt Tootle was tripped in the first half and then when Westwood's late long ball clipped the Cheltenham post.

With having no major injury concerns, Dario Gradi had the luxury of naming an unchanged starting line-up for the third game in succession. The only change for the trip to Whaddon Road saw Danny Shelley replace AJ Leitch-Smith on the substitutes' bench after the striker collected a bruised ankle in the mid-week reserved friendly at Derby County.

Crewe-born Ashley Westwood captained the side for the first time in a competitive match as part of the managers rotating armband system.

The Railwaymen's first away game of the new season kicked off in a thunder storm brewing over Cheltenham. A severe downpour on the eve of kick-off certainly watered the immaculate playing surface at Whaddon Road.

A sleepily start from the visitors saw Lee Bell lose possession to Josh Low after just 30 seconds and with Crewe on the back foot his cross picked out Wesley Thomas superbly at the far post. His firm header was kept out by the agility of Rhys Taylor, who had to push it away for a corner. It was an early let off.

After a sluggish start to the proceedings, Crewe settled down and Clayton Donaldson forced our first corner after just 3 minutes.Westwood swung it over to the far post and centre-half Patrick Ada volleyed it into Scott Brown's top corner without checking his stride. It was wonderful technique from the Cameroonian defender to register his first ever goal for the club. It is a real contender for goal-of-the-season already.

The match started at a rapid tempo with Cheltenham eager to get forward and into the Crewe penalty area. The lively Thomas couldn't quite keep down a clipped pass from Low and Danny Blanchett had to be well placed to block another shot from Low. Midfielder Frankie Artus shot into the floor and into the hands of the well positioned Taylor as the home side pushed forward hoping to cancel out Ada's wonderful opener. Crewe had the advantage but that couldn't gloss over the fact that we were certainly on the back foot. Giving cheap fouls were not helping our cause either!

One free-kick on the Crewe left hand side was whipped goalwards by Cheltenham's full-back Danny Andrew and Taylor was again called upon to tip the effort over his bar.

After weathering some pressure, Crewe could have gone 2-0 ahead on 19 minutes when a delivery from Westwood found Calvin Zola in space at the far end of the Cheltenham box but he couldn't get a sufficient touch to it to trouble Brown.

Cheltenham deservedly equalised on 22 minutes after yet another needless foul was conceded by Ada on the impressive Thomas. Full-back Danny Andrew again tested Taylor with a well struck shot and with Crewe struggling to clear their lines, the Alex keeper was then called upon to keep out an effort from Brian Smikle at the far post - but again Thomas was well placed to turn in the second rebound. It was harsh on Taylor, who had been Crewe's top performer in the early exchanges by a country mile, but the home side had been impressive and deserved to be level.

The influential Low then shot just wide of the mark after being granted the freedom of Whaddon Road and Crewe needed to step up toCheltenham's attacking zest. Thomas spoilt his first half performance with a booking for a silly foul on Artell.

Crewe had the pace up front to be a real handful though and after Miller and Zola had worked hard to retrieve possession in the centre circle, Miller set the quick footed Donaldson through and after dropping his shoulder he whistled a shot just wide of the right hand post.

A minute later, a probing run from full-back Matt Tootle saw him venture into the Cheltenham half and he appeared to be tripped by Danny Andrew inside the penalty area. Tootle was adamant that he had been felled inside the box and continued to protest to referee Williamson. The under pressure referee awarded a free-kick right on the line and Westwood wastefully shot over. Should the Alex have had more?

That debatable decision would come back to haunt us even more on 42 minutes when the referee missed an obvious obstruction on Miller and Cheltenham went on to take the lead. Thomas, who was a real handful for Ada and Artell was on hand again to poach a goal after Taylor had kept out his original effort. The Alex players were not happy to say the least as they were convinced that the official should have blown for the foul on Miller.

Crewe tried to hit back before the break through Murphy, but Brown was equal to his shot and he pushed it away for a corner. Captain Westwood and Tootle led the protests to the official as he signalled the end of the first 45 minutes.

The second half was barely four minutes old when Crewe found an equaliser via another set play. Cheltenham's captain Michael Pook conceded a cheap free-kick by clattering into the back of Westwood some 25 yards from goal. Westwood dusted himself down to float a perfect delivery to the far post and Zola ghosted in to head from close range.

A minute later, Bell, who had upped his game since the break, nearly conceded an own goal with his own over eagerness! He had raced back to side foot just past Taylor's post. It was close to say the least but in the end Crewe averted the danger from the corner.

Zola became our first player to be booked in the league following a clumsy challenge. It was an enthralling game with both teams always looking to press forward. Artus shot just wide of Taylor's left hand post and the pacey Donaldson nearly reached a long ball from Ada.

Cheltenham regained the lead just after the hour mark when Thomas skipped past Ada to cross for his strike partner Jeff Goulding . After taking a touch he spun and shot past Taylor. Crewe again had to find some character and bounce back and after looking so tight at the back in the pre-season and in the early games, conceding three will be a concern.

After Ada conceded another free-kick when trying to steal possession too quickly, Cheltenham didn't wait around for Crewe to regroup and after Low had found Artus, his powerful shot had to be pushed away by the busier Taylor.

On 70 minutes, Crewe were nearly out of it after a bizarre incident. Brian Smikle tried to feed Thomas but in trying to avert the danger Taylor rushed out to try and grab the ball but missed it. It trickled towards our empty net but Ada rushed back to clear it before it crossed the line.

That heart-in-the-mouth moment was soon followed by the substitution of Thomas for Shaun Jeffers. The Alex defence would have been pleased to have seen the back of Cheltenham's two-goal man.

A flowing passing move from the Railwaymen involving the entire midfield three and full-backs saw Tootle reach the Cheltenham by-line and his clipped cross found Miller but his header was brilliantly saved by Brown. It was a wonderful stop to prevent Crewe going level again.

Crewe continued to press but Cheltenham were defending well in numbers and had the quick thinking Brown often racing from his goal to act as a sweeper.

With just over 6 minutes remaining, Dario handed youngster Nick Powell his senior debut. Donaldson made way.

With two minutes remaining Westwood's long ball forward nearly caught everybody out. It was aimed at Zola but the towering striker couldn't quite reach it with his head and skipped through only to clip the post. Cheltenham had a late let off as Crewe pressurised their box.

The captain on the day had our last real chance with a header from a Blanchett cross but he couldn't keep it down.