Match ends, Crewe Alexandra 2, Grimsby Town 0.
CreweCrewe Alexandra2GrimsbyGrimsby Town0
Second-half goals from Corey Whelan and Shaun Miller earned Crewe their second win in three games as the Railwaymen saw off Grimsby.
On-loan Liverpool defender Whelan's cool finish ended the resistance of Grimsby goalkeeper James McKeown, who had made a string of smart saves to keep the Mariners in the game.
Whelan stepped inside on to Charlie Kirk's cross-field ball to find McKeown's far corner in the 70th minute.
Striker Miller then registered for the first time since his return to Crewe on a permanent basis in the summer, glancing home Ryan Wintle's cross.
McKeown kept out Miller's early strike with his knees and smothered Kirk's close-range effort at the far post before saving the follow-up from James Jones.
Grimsby were not short of a threat, but their finishing failed to match their approach play.
JJ Hooper side-footed straight at Crewe keeper Ben Garratt and Wes Thomas broke clear but then buried his shot into the side-netting.
Hooper was denied by an instinctive save from Garratt, who also pushed around Charles Vernam's angled shot after the break.
McKeown excelled again thwarting Jordan Bowery, but he was finally beaten by Whelan and Miller, before he tipped Callum Ainley's late effort on to the bar.
Report supplied by Press Association.
Line-ups
Crewe
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Garratt
- 30Whelan
- 5Ray
- 29Hunt
- 3Pickering
- 11AinleySubstituted forFinneyat 89'minutes
- 8Jones
- 15Wintle
- 20Kirk
- 10BowerySubstituted forPorterat 85'minutes
- 9Miller
Substitutes
- 6Raynes
- 7Porter
- 13Richards
- 14Nicholls
- 16Lowery
- 21Finney
- 33O'Connor
Grimsby
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1McKeown
- 27Hendrie
- 6Collins
- 25Whitmore
- 2Hall-Johnson
- 9HooperSubstituted forCookat 62'minutes
- 15CliftonSubstituted forHessenthalerat 78'minutes
- 8Rose
- 22EmbletonSubstituted forPringleat 74'minutes
- 18Vernam
- 39Thomas
Substitutes
- 4Welsh
- 7Hessenthaler
- 11Cook
- 12Famewo
- 21Rose
- 23Russell
- 30Pringle
- Referee:
- Peter Wright
- Attendance:
- 3,725
Match Stats
Home TeamCreweAway TeamGrimsby
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away7
- Corners
- Home3
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away1
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 2, Grimsby Town 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Whitmore (Grimsby Town) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Foul by Harry Pickering (Crewe Alexandra).
Post update
Charles Vernam (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Corner, Grimsby Town. Conceded by Nicky Hunt.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Oliver Finney replaces Callum Ainley.
Post update
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by James McKeown.
Post update
Attempt saved. Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Grimsby Town. Conceded by Nicky Hunt.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Chris Porter replaces Jordan Bowery.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Wintle (Crewe Alexandra).
Post update
Jake Hessenthaler (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Shaun Miller (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Grimsby Town. Jake Hessenthaler replaces Harry Clifton.
Goal!
Goal! Crewe Alexandra 2, Grimsby Town 0. Shaun Miller (Crewe Alexandra) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Wintle.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Grimsby Town. Ben Pringle replaces Elliot Embleton.
Post update
Attempt missed. Elliot Embleton (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
