Match ends, Crewe Alexandra 2, Grimsby Town 0.
Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Grimsby Town
- From the section League Two
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
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 2, Grimsby Town 0.
Attempt missed. Alex Whitmore (Grimsby Town) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Foul by Harry Pickering (Crewe Alexandra).
Charles Vernam (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Grimsby Town. Conceded by Nicky Hunt.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Oliver Finney replaces Callum Ainley.
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by James McKeown.
Attempt saved. Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Corner, Grimsby Town. Conceded by Nicky Hunt.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Chris Porter replaces Jordan Bowery.
Foul by Ryan Wintle (Crewe Alexandra).
Jake Hessenthaler (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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.
Attempt blocked. Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Grimsby Town. Ben Pringle replaces Elliot Embleton.
Attempt missed. Elliot Embleton (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Goal!
Goal! Crewe Alexandra 1, Grimsby Town 0. Corey Whelan (Crewe Alexandra) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Charlie Kirk.
Attempt missed. Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Grimsby Town. Jordan Cook replaces JJ Hooper.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Wes Thomas (Grimsby Town) because of an injury.
Attempt saved. Jordan Bowery (Crewe Alexandra) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Corner, Grimsby Town. Conceded by Ben Garratt.
Attempt saved. Charles Vernam (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt blocked. Corey Whelan (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Charles Vernam (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt missed. Harry Clifton (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Corner, Grimsby Town. Conceded by Ben Garratt.
Attempt saved. Wes Thomas (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt saved. Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Ryan Wintle (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Elliot Embleton (Grimsby Town).
Second Half
Second Half begins Crewe Alexandra 0, Grimsby Town 0.
Half Time
First Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 0, Grimsby Town 0.
Attempt saved. Mitch Rose (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt missed. Wes Thomas (Grimsby Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.