- Crewe left ruing missed chances
- Thompson's goal the difference
- The Alex remain in fourth position
Crewe Alexandra Women were beaten by a single goal at The Step Places Stadium despite creating a number of clear cut chances.
In the end it was Cath Thompson who won the game for the hosts with a strike in the 36th minute.
Matt Fisher will hope that his squad will be back firing on all cylinders as they travel to Blackburn Community this coming Sunday.
The Crewe Head Coach made two changes from last week's victory over Darwen FC, Emma Heath and Leah Collins returning at the expense of Ellie Jones who was unavailable and Emilia Edwards who dropped to the bench after a midweek knee injury.
The Alex looked in control early on with Rubie Deaville and Jess Sheridan managing to pick up the ball with ease between the lines and were continuing to supply the front line.
In the 22nd minute, Leah Collins raced down the right hand side, but her cross somehow evaded the three Crewe players in the box.
Deaville then tested the keeper from outside the area, but her effort was palmed away by Megan Dickin in the West Dids goal.
The deadlock was broken when a counter attack from the hosts was converted by Thompson as she managed to find space on right hand side before finishing superbly from a tight angle.
Caitlin Bradbury who was operating in the left back role was linking up well with Katie Gibbons on the flank. The duo combined to create the Alex's best chance of the half as the ball found its way to Emily Cole in the box and she calmly struck the ball into the bottom corner of the net, but the referee's assistant deemed the goal to be offside.
After the break, Crewe piled on the pressure. Fisher tweaked the personnel around with Collins now playing in a more central and Cole was causing problems for the home side down the right hand side.
Another chance went beckoning as Cole beat two defenders to square the ball to Gibbons in the box but her effort was blocked on the line.
The Reds then had a good penalty shout when a high foot connected with Beth Ragdale in the area, but the referee waved away the protests.
Crewe were penned into the West Didsbury half, but resolute defending and some good goalkeeping meant the Alex had ten minutes to try and snatch something.
Tankard was introduced late on and she was straight into the action - creating wide overloads with Cole floating inside more.
Crewe's efforts deserved a late goal as a corner was half cleared by West and the ball back into the box almost found Beth Ragdale with the goal gaping, but it was just out of her reach.
On the narrow defeat, Fisher said: "Of course we're disappointed, but we've played very, very well.
"I don't think I've witnessed a loss in which we've dictated the play so much, but we know that goals win games. We weren't clinical enough in the final third, but with these players I know we can be dangerous."