Crewe Alexandra kept up their 100% record in pre-season with a 2-0 victory over Walsall this afternoon.

First-half goals from Callum Ainley and Daniel Powell were enough for Dave Artell’s side as they made it four wins from four as they build up for their return to the League One.

Crewe made an electric start to the game and were ahead inside three minutes as Ainley opened the scoring. Billy Sass-Davies found Charlie Kirk with a lovely long pass before Kirk fed full-back Nathan Woodthorpe. The first-year professional burst into the box and found Ainley on the edge of the box who made no mistake in finding the bottom corner.

It was a perfect start for Crewe but Will Jaaskelainen had to make a good save to keep Crewe ahead moments later as Rory Holden fired a low drive.

The Alex looked for their second with Ryan Wintle and Powell both coming close although Zak Jules did head against the Alex post from a dangerous corner.

But just before the break Crewe went 2-0 ahead. Once again it started with a long Sass-Davies ball to Kirk. The Alex number 10 whipped a dangerous ball into the Walsall box which was well left by Ainley for Powell who cleverly dinked the ball over the visiting keeper to make it 2-0.

Crewe continued to look dangerous after the break with Sass-Davies and Wintle both coming close from dangerous corners.

Boss Dave Artell made some changes as the game entered the closing stages and one of those changes, Offrande Zanzala, had a close range header well saved before fellow substitute Rio Adebisi and Kirk both saw long range efforts go close.

That was the last real action of the game at Reaseheath as Crewe continued their pre-season with another impressive win.

The Alex return to pre-season action on Tuesday evening

Staring XI

Jaaskelainen, Ng, Sass-Davies, Nolan, Woodthorpe, Wintle, Ainley, Finney, Powell, Mandron, Kirk.

Subs Used:

Lundstrum, Adebisi, Zanzala,