Match ends, Crewe Alexandra 3, Tranmere Rovers 2.
CreweCrewe Alexandra3TranmereTranmere Rovers2
Callum Ainley's double helped secure Crewe a home win over Tranmere in League Two.
Rovers' James Norwood scored his 13th of the campaign before the break to cancel out Ainley's opener.
But Dave Artell's side produced some classy finishing in the second half when Ainley restored the lead and Charlie Kirk fired in a third before Tranmere substitute Paul Mullin reduced the arrears late on.
Rovers started well, but Ryan Wintle scooped Ollie Banks' cross-shot off the home line and it was Crewe who took a 20th-minute lead when Rovers keeper Scott Davies was rooted to his line and Ainley picked out the corner with a low drive from the edge of the 'D'.
Davies again looked in trouble as he scrambled a long-range shot from Perry Ng past his post but Tranmere were back on terms when Connor Jennings picked out Norwood's run.
The in-form striker showed a clinical edge, turning his marker before slipping the ball past Ben Garratt.
After the restart Ainley conjured a belting finish from the right side of the box after some fine work from Jordan Bowery, then Kirk added a third with a classy half-volley after Ainley ferried the ball across the box.
Rovers made Crewe sweat late on after Mullin headed Banks' cross in from close range.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Crewe
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Garratt
- 30Whelan
- 2Ng
- 12Nolan
- 3Pickering
- 11AinleySubstituted forNichollsat 78'minutes
- 8Jones
- 15Wintle
- 20Kirk
- 9MillerSubstituted forPorterat 87'minutes
- 10Bowery
Substitutes
- 6Raynes
- 7Porter
- 13Richards
- 14Nicholls
- 21Finney
- 29Hunt
- 33O'Connor
Tranmere
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Davies
- 14Caprice
- 5McNulty
- 6Monthe
- 24Bakayogo
- 12McCullough
- 22GilmourSubstituted forColeat 61'minutes
- 28BanksBooked at 89mins
- 11Jennings
- 10NorwoodBooked at 89mins
- 18SmithSubstituted forMullinat 74'minutesBooked at 79mins
Substitutes
- 2Buxton
- 4Sutton
- 9Mullin
- 17Mottley-Henry
- 23George
- 29Cole
- Referee:
- Carl Boyeson
- Attendance:
- 5,154
Match Stats
Home TeamCreweAway TeamTranmere
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away7
- Corners
- Home5
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 3, Tranmere Rovers 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Steve McNulty (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Corner, Tranmere Rovers. Conceded by Charlie Kirk.
Post update
Jordan Bowery (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Zoumana Bakayogo (Tranmere Rovers).
Post update
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by James Norwood.
Booking
Oliver Banks (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Booking
James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Ryan Wintle (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Oliver Banks (Tranmere Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Chris Porter replaces Shaun Miller.
Post update
Foul by Paul Mullin (Tranmere Rovers).
Post update
Charlie Kirk (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Crewe Alexandra 3, Tranmere Rovers 2. Oliver Banks (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Tranmere Rovers. Conceded by Perry Ng.
Post update
Attempt saved. James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Tranmere Rovers. Conceded by Eddie Nolan.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luke McCullough (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Bowery (Crewe Alexandra).
