- Railwaymen notch first win in six
- Nevitt hits 17th of the season
- Three successive away clean sheets
Elliott Nevitt’s 17th goal of the season earned Crewe Alexandra a priceless victory at Morecambe.
The top scorer popped up in the 70th minute to break the deadlock and it proved enough for three points on a difficult night in swirling wind.
The Railwaymen finished with 10 men after Lewis Leigh was sent off for a mistimed tackle in the final minute.
But they stood firm to secure a valuable win which has lifted them to fifth in the table, and established an eight-point buffer in the Play-Offs.
Lee Bell made one change to the side that drew at Accrington, with ex-Morecambe man Ryan Cooney replacing Aaron Rowe, who dropped to the bench.
Morecambe, who left striker Ged Garner on the bench, were denied by a brilliant Tom Booth save from Joel Senior on 11 minutes.
Yann Songo’o volleyed just wide after meeting a swirling free-kick from the hosts, while Nevitt forced a save from Archie Mair at the other end.
On 43 minutes Mickey Demetriou and Nevitt combined to free Matus Holicek in the inside left channel but the youngster could not beat the home keeper.
Rio Adebisi fizzed a couple of dangerous balls across goal in the closing stages of the half but the hosts survived.
Mickey Demetriou fired over the bar from a corner and Holicek couldn’t find the target from a good position, as the Alex probed for an opener after the restart.
And the breakthrough arrived on 70 minutes when Zac Williams surged forward from deep and unleashed a shot which was deflected across goal, and Nevitt was on hand to fire into the roof of the net from an angle.
Booth was equal to a Gwion Edwards effort at the near post, as the home side searched for a leveller.
On 89 minutes Crewe were reduced to 10 men when Leigh was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Senior.
But the visitors professionally saw the game out with little fuss.
Morecambe (4-2-3-1): Mair; Tutonda, Bedeau, Rawson (C Smith, 82), Senior; Khumbeni, Songo’o; Slew, Edwards (Fairclough, 88), Adams (McKiernan, 66); Brown (Garner, 81).
Subs not used: A Smith, Larsson, Threlkeld.
Booked: Songo’o
Crewe (3-5-2): Booth; Billington, Demetriou, Williams; Adebisi, Cooney, Austerfield, Leigh, Holicek (Tabiner, 78); Tracey (Rowe, 66), Nevitt.
Subs not used: Lenaercik, Finney, Kempster-Down, Kirk, Agius.
Booked: None.
Sent off: Leigh.
Referee: Scott Oldham.
Attendance: 3,564 (464)
