Crewe Alexandra bowed out of the Cheshire Senior Cup at the semi-final stage, after a 2-0 defeat at Congleton Town.

A brace from Arron Johns did the damage for The Bears, and Mike Jackson’s side could not find a way to break the defensive resolve of the NW Counties Premier outfit.

Max Woodcock hit the woodwork and David Amoo threatened, but it was a frustrating evening for The Railwaymen at Booth Street.

Crewe, who had dispatched Witton Albion and Nantwich Town in earlier rounds, fell behind on five minutes when Johns reacted to tap home after keeper Jack Flint parried a Dan Needham strike.

Amoo and Woodcock both saw efforts fly just over the bar as the visitors tried to respond, while smart work from Flint denied ex-Alex striker Tom Pope at the other end.

Johns scrambled home his second of the game on 56 minutes, and Pope had a goal ruled out for offside as Richard Duffy’s side impressed.

The Alex bossed possession but Woodcock’s late effort, which rattled a post, was the closest they came.

Crewe: Flint, Robertson, Kempster-Down, Crolla, Bhatti, Griffiths, Lunt, Uwakwe, Amoo, Woodcock, Agius.