Matt Fisher was able to name new signing Ella Pemberton on his bench whilst also handing 16-year-old Emma Heath her first start at the Ammies.

 

A quiet opening 45 came alive just before the half-time whistle when Ragdale capitalised on a scramble in the box and she managed to tap it home from close-range.

 

If there was ever a good time to score, it's just before half time, and the next best thing is getting another just after the break. Fallon doubled the Alex's lead after watching Heath's effort bounce into her path and they were in the driving seat to three points.

 

Salford's management team reshuffled the pack and started to cause Crewe problems. Feiruz Abdullahi became a constant menace down the right and Hannah Holloway was needed to halt the attacks. However, Salford managed to break the Alex defence when a poor clearance was met with an expert finish from the edge of the area.

 

Crewe were determined to get three huge points over the line and had to rely on Holloway a lot in the closing stages. She did just that as the final whistle went and the points were coming back to CW2.

 

Matt Fisher provided this in his post-match reaction.

 

He said: "We're so proud of the girls. It's never easy coming here, Salford are a top side and we knew we had to defend for our lives in the final moments of the game.

 

"I must say we didn't play as well as we can do and had to go more direct than we will have wanted to, but we've come away with three valuable points at this stage of the season, is all that matters."