The Tykes flew out of the blocks early doors and were ahead on nine minutes, the forward tapping home after Richards parried a shot from outside the box.

One became two just seven minutes later as the attacking midfielder broke through the Alex defence too easily and steered low past Richards.

The Alex managed to get a foothold midway through the game and subsequently reduced the arrears after 26 minutes, Chris Atkinson firing low into the corner after Cooper had flicked a pass into his path.

After the break, Crewe had Richards to thank for keeping them in the game, producing a magnificent penalty save diving to his right to stop it becoming 3-1 on the 56 minute mark. Instead, six minutes later and the Alex were level, Ryan Wintle firing low into the corner on his left-peg after his initial right-footed effort was blocked.

Crewe moved from strength-to-strength as the game wore on and went ahead for the first time when Liam O'Neill converted Callum Saunders' way-wood shot on 72 minutes.

The game was made safe just four minutes from time after masterful play from Cooper & a cheeky cross which has neatly headed in by Saunders for 4-2.

Crewe: Richards, Baillie, Mullarkey, Kearns, Dowsett, Howell (Finney, 45), Atkinson, Wintle, Brown (O'Neill, 60), Cooper, Saunders