Dave Artell's first-half strike saw Crewe defeat Cheltenham to join them in the League Two play-off places.

The Railwaymen now hold a two-point advantage over Oxford United in seventh with Cheltenham a point above Crewe.

Crewe opened the scoring when Harry Davis nodded down Ashley Westwood's cross for Artell to hook home.

Substitute Max Clayton fired wide for Crewe, while James Spencer set up Ben Burgess only for the Robins substitute to see his shot saved.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis told BBC Radio Stoke:

"The performance was secondary, today was all about getting the three points and giving ourselves a chance with two games to go.

"I thought the players were immense in the way they approached the game, and we played some decent football at times too.

"The goal came through an unlikely source with David Artell scoring an overhead kick - who actually pulled his hamstring at the same time."

Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"We played really well first half and we know they're a decent side and both teams looked a little nervous but I couldn't see them scoring.

"Second half we became a bit disjointed trying to chase the game and we couldn't quite get the momentum until the last five or six minutes.

"We haven't created enough, we hit the post in the first half and had a couple of other half chances and that sums us up at the moment.

"We go again and we're still in pole position against the other teams below us. We've got a tough game next week, but so have Crewe and so have Oxford."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Crewe Alexandra

  • 01 Phillips
  • 02 Tootle
  • 03 Davis
  • 05 Artell (Mellor - 55' )
  • 06 Dugdale
  • 04 Westwood (Bell - 85' )
  • 08 Murphy
  • 34 Bodin
  • 09 Miller (Clayton - 64' )
  • 10 Leitch-Smith
  • 11 Moore

Substitutes

  • 13 Martin
  • 32 Brown
  • 07 Bell
  • 17 Mellor
  • 19 Clayton

Cheltenham Town

  • 01 Brown
  • 02 Lowe
  • 06 Elliott
  • 19 Garbutt
  • 22 Jombati
  • 07 Pack
  • 11 Smikle (McGlashan - 66' )
  • 16 Penn (Burgess - 61' )
  • 25 Summerfield
  • 14 Spencer
  • 23 Mohamed (Duffy - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Hooman
  • 08 Low
  • 20 McGlashan
  • 09 Duffy
  • 29 Burgess
Ref: Langford
Att: 5,495

Match Stats

Shots

11 9

On target

7 3

Corners

7 4

Fouls

7 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:50 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:45

Lee Bell concedes a free kick for a foul on Sido Jombati. Scott P Brown takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:41

Darryl Duffy produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

90:00 +2:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Dugdale by James Spencer. Steve Phillips takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:45

James Spencer takes a shot. Adam Dugdale gets a block in.

86:48

Unfair challenge on Lee Bell by James Spencer results in a free kick. Adam Dugdale restarts play with the free kick.

84:26 Substitution

Substitution Lee Bell is brought on as a substitute for Ashley Westwood.

81:22

James Spencer takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

80:17 Substitution

Substitution Kaid Mohamed leaves the field to be replaced by Darryl Duffy.

77:06

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marlon Pack. Steve Phillips takes the indirect free kick.

76:30

Handball by Byron Moore. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.

75:44

Billy Bodin has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

74:49

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ashley Westwood.

72:45

The ball is delivered by Billy Bodin, Scott P Brown makes a save.

72:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Summerfield on Kelvin Mellor. Direct free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.

70:42

Ashley Westwood takes a shot. Steve Elliott gets a block in. Effort on goal by Max Clayton from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.

69:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jermaine McGlashan by Luke Murphy. Direct free kick taken by Scott P Brown.

69:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by James Spencer on Ashley Westwood. Adam Dugdale takes the direct free kick.

68:18

Max Clayton takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown.

67:57

Ben Burgess takes a shot. Save by Steve Phillips.

66:45

Kaid Mohamed takes a shot. Max Clayton makes a clearance.

65:32 Substitution

Substitution Jermaine McGlashan replaces Brian Smikle.

65:32

Max Clayton produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

64:35

The referee blows for offside against Ajay Leitch-Smith. Indirect free kick taken by Scott P Brown. Billy Bodin fouled by Luke Garbutt, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.

63:08 Substitution

Substitution Max Clayton joins the action as a substitute, replacing Shaun Miller.

59:44

Steve Phillips takes the direct free kick.

59:44 Substitution

Substitution (Cheltenham) makes a substitution, with Ben Burgess coming on for Russell Penn.

59:44

Unfair challenge on Ashley Westwood by James Spencer results in a free kick.

58:17

The ball is sent over by Matt Tootle, clearance by Steve Elliott.

56:15

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ashley Westwood.

54:05 Substitution

Substitution David Artell leaves the field to be replaced by Kelvin Mellor.

54:05

Corner taken by Luke Garbutt from the left by-line.

52:47

Shaun Miller challenges James Spencer unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shot comes in from Luke Garbutt from the free kick.

51:48

James Spencer is caught offside. Free kick taken by Steve Phillips.

50:27

Marlon Pack produces a cross, save made by Steve Phillips.

48:54

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood from the right by-line, clearance made by Marlon Pack. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marlon Pack by David Artell. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.

47:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Byron Moore by Brian Smikle. Billy Bodin has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

46:57

Ashley Westwood delivers the ball, Steve Elliott manages to make a clearance.

46:16

Inswinging corner taken by Ashley Westwood from the right by-line.

45:21

Marlon Pack gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Harry Davis. Steve Phillips restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +1:44 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +1:01

Foul by James Spencer on Harry Davis, free kick awarded. Steve Phillips restarts play with the free kick.

43:43

Assist on the goal came from Billy Bodin.

43:43 Goal scored

Goal - David Artell - Crewe 1 - 0 Cheltenham David Artell grabs a goal from close range to the top left corner of the goal. Crewe 1-0 Cheltenham.

42:59

Corner taken left-footed by Ashley Westwood to the near post, clearance by Steve Elliott.

42:09

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Billy Bodin, clearance by Keith Lowe.

41:22

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Marlon Pack.

40:22

Shaun Miller takes a shot. Blocked by Steve Elliott.

40:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by James Spencer on David Artell. Free kick taken by Steve Phillips.

39:22

Byron Moore takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown. Handball decision goes against Billy Bodin. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.

38:15

Russell Penn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luke Murphy. Adam Dugdale takes the free kick.

37:05

Harry Davis delivers the ball, save by Scott P Brown.

30:54

The official flags Shaun Miller offside. Scott P Brown takes the indirect free kick.

29:55

Marlon Pack challenges Luke Murphy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ashley Westwood.

29:07

The offside flag is raised against James Spencer. Steve Phillips takes the indirect free kick.

27:17

Inswinging corner taken by Luke Garbutt from the right by-line.

25:08

Ashley Westwood fouled by Marlon Pack, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Phillips takes the direct free kick.

23:56

A cross is delivered by Kaid Mohamed, save made by Steve Phillips.

23:03

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Marlon Pack.

22:06

Billy Bodin takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown.

20:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Russell Penn on Matt Tootle. Free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.

19:31

James Spencer is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Steve Phillips.

18:10

Luke Garbutt sends in a cross, save by Steve Phillips.

16:45

James Spencer has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

16:12

Ajay Leitch-Smith fouled by Luke Summerfield, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Dugdale takes the direct free kick.

13:25

Russell Penn fouled by Shaun Miller, the ref awards a free kick. Keith Lowe takes the direct free kick.

12:56

James Spencer produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

11:48

The ball is delivered by Ashley Westwood, clearance made by Keith Lowe.

10:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sido Jombati by Byron Moore. Direct free kick taken by Luke Garbutt.

6:04

Ajay Leitch-Smith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Russell Penn. Brian Smikle takes the direct free kick. Ajay Leitch-Smith takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown. Corner taken right-footed by Luke Murphy.

5:43

Shot from just outside the box by James Spencer misses to the left of the goal.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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