Tommi O’Reilly’s neat finish ensured Crewe maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a 1-0 win over Crawley which keeps them joint top of League Two.
Aston Villa loanee O’Reilly handed the Railwaymen a first-half lead at the Mornflake Stadium which the visitors rarely looked like cancelling out.
Max Sanders tested keeper Harvey Davies and Josh March drove an effort past the far post. March’s headed flick-on set up O’Reilly, who tucked a near-post finish past one-time Crewe loan keeper Davies in the 23rd minute.
Alex skipper Mickey Demetriou had a headed finish ruled out for offside.
Crawley struggled to pose a threat and Crewe looked like adding to their tally with March and Calum Agius putting efforts just over.
After the break O’Reilly went agonisingly close when he first crashed a shot from the edge of the box onto the bar before the midfielder curled a free-kick onto the upright.
Crawley are without a point from their opening three games and to sum up their afternoon substitute Kaheim Dixon side-footed a finish straight at keeper Tom Booth at the end of a surging run.
