The Alex travelled to Salford knowing that they can not mathematically be promoted this season and have taken the option to experiment with formations and personnel.
Crewe struggled to a foothold on the game in the early stages with Salford pinning the Reds in their own half of the pitch, and when Crewe did win possession back the transition through the thirds was disappointing.
Salford took the lead on 14 minutes as Crewe failed to clear a corner on several occasions leaving Salford's number nine to tap in from close-range. The home side doubled their lead three minutes later, when a mix up between skipper Loren Cooper and goalkeeper Hannah Holloway provided the home side with an easy chance.
Crewe looked shell shocked and were showing no signs of applying any type of pressure on their opponents. Looking for a way back into the game, Fisher made two changes on the half hour mark replacing Garner and Jess Sheridan and introducing Amanda Fallon and Emilia Edwards.
This seemed to have some impact as Crewe finally started growing into the game and should of pulled a goal back when Edwards' cross found Katie Greenwood unmarked at the back post but she headed her effort over the bar. Grice and Fallon both had chances for the Alex but the home keeper was equal to them.
The Alex started the second half like they finished the first as another chance was wasted on 51 minutes. Grice beat her opponent on the right-hand side before crossing towards an unmarked Megan Parker but she could only volley wide from eight yards out.
Salford made it three against the run of play on 64 minutes as the impressive Saf Newhouse raced clear of Crewe's high line and she calmly rounded Holloway before passing into an open net.
Grice was unfortunate again on 67 minutes as her left footed drive from 20-yards out hit the underside of the cross bar and the rebound was just out of Parker's reach.
After some intense pressure Crewe final got off the mark. Fallon managed to get on the end of Parker's cross to head home from close-range. Fallon was immediately back in the action after she saw her powerful strike fly past the keeper.
Crewe applied plenty of pressure in the final minutes, however they left their work too late.
Head Coach, Matt Fisher spoke immediately after the final whistle and said: "We weren't happy with our start to the game. We have to go away and assess why we started so badly and why things became much more positive when we made changes.
"We can't be giving away two goal leads as we did the same last week. Credit to Salford as they were so intense for the first half hour. After that we were the better team but had already given ourselves a mountain to climb."