• Railwaymen back on track with win
• Williams bags his second of season
• Alex stay fifth in League Two

Crewe Alexandra bounced back to winning ways with strong performance at Harrogate Town.

For the third time this season, Lee Bell’s men responded to a defeat by claiming the next three points on offer as Zac Williams’s goal separated the sides.

The big defender nodded his second of the campaign on 31 minutes, but it also took a resilient and spirited defensive effort to get the win over the line.

The Railwaymen stay fifth in League Two as a result, one point off the automatic spots.

Now medical staff will check on injuries to Williams and Christopher Long as the squad prepares for next weekend’s FA Cup with Derby.

Bell two changes to the side that lost to Stockport in midweek. Fit-again Joel Tabiner was back in place of Jack Powell (knee) while Elliott Nevitt was given a start in attack at the expense of Courtney Baker-Richardson, who dropped to the bench.

Harrogate, who fielded Crewe’s 2022-23 Player of the Year Rod McDonald at the heart of their defence, breathed a sigh of relief when Nevitt’s third-minute volley flew inches over the bar.

On 16 minutes a super Harvey Davies save denied Matty Daly from close range, while Long found the gloves of keeper Mark Oxley at the end.

Strong hold-up play from Nevitt teed up Long for another strike which skidded just wide from 20 yards.

The Railwaymen broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when Mickey Demetriou’s long throw found Williams and his firm header went in off the post.

The Alex were dealt a blow when Long picked up a knee injured and limped off to be replaced by Aaron Rowe.

Williams almost got on the end of an Adebisi cross before the break but the home side were able to clear.

Just before the whistle, Williams appeared to twist his ankle after falling over some pitch covers that had been left very close to the pitch and he could not continue.

Ryan Cooney came out for the second half. He operated at right wing-back and Adebisi switched to the left.

McDonald headed over from a Town set-piece and Daly curled an effort over as Harrogate looked for a leveller.

Just before the hour mark Adebisi and Shilow Tracey kept the pressure on and Connor O’Riordan screwed just wide when the ball dropped to him in the box.

The home side steadily built pressure. Joe White and Cooney made some important defensive interventions in the Alex penalty area as they pressed.

On 82 minutes Rowe’s flicked header from a Demetriou cross was blocked in the six-yard box, while George Thomson wafted a shot over at the other end.

Baker-Richardson forced a good save from fellow sub Lewis Thomas, but the Alex saw out the five minutes of added time with composure.

Harrogate (4-3-3): Oxley (Thomas, 47), Ramsay, O’Connor, McDonald, Foulds; Sutton, Falkingham (Folarin, 65), M Daly; Armstrong, Thomson.

Subs not used: Cornelius, J Daly, Muldoon, Sivi, Horbury.

Booked: Sutton, Folarin, McDonald.

Crewe (3-4-3): Davies;O’Riordan, Offord, Demetriou; Williams (Cooney, 46), Adebisi, Tabiner (Thomas, 74), White; Tracey, Long (Rowe, 39), Nevitt (Baker-Richardson, 89).

Subs not used: Booth, Colkett, Holicek.

Booked: None.

Referee: Declan Bourne.

Attendance: 2,444 (450).