There was no change to the starting line up from the weekend for the rearranged trip to the Alexandra Stadium, Gresty Road, with Grant Smith keeping his place in midfield.

Chris Lumsdon returned from his one-match suspension to take a place on the bench, with the travelling squad fully aware that second place was within grasp if they could find the right result.

United started well, using the width of the pitch to their advantage, but the Railwaymen won the first corner of the evening in the 6th minute when Livesey had to put a Boyle cross behind his own goal. Gary Roberts took it short, and Schumacher tried his luck with the first shot of the evening, angling it well wide.

Gary Roberts found another early cross in the 8th minute, but it evaded everyone and whipped behind for a goal kick, despite there being plenty of players in the box.

The use of the ball in the final third let both sides down in the opening 15 minutes, but good play from Boyle in the 16th minute led to a cross that Garner found himself having to deal with. He hooked it away, and Hackney broke clear, heading towards the opposition penalty area. Garner eventually found space for a shot, but Baudet blocked it, diverting it in to the waiting hands of Ben Williams.

A good spell of pressure on 19 minutes brought a teasing cross from Hackney that O'Donnell was pleased to see skid away, and Danny Graham volleyed right at the keeper as the visitors kept the pressure on in and around the box.

George Abbey was almost made to pay for a moment of indecision on 20 minutes when he left the ball for Williams to come for. Taylor pounced, drilling a low cross in to the area, and O'Donnell was the only thing preventing Grant Smith from scoring his first goal for the club with a scoop over his own bar.

It was all about Carlisle United for a long spell, and Joe Garner was next to line up his sights with a 25th minute header that he couldn't quite get on top of. He connected well, but it was heading for the stands from the moment it left his forehead.

The Alex weren't having much of a say at all, and they were under pressure once more in the 31st minute when Bridge-Wilkinson sent a free kick to the far post. Garner challenged, but the half clearance worked its way to Murphy just outside the box, inviting him to shoot. He did, but it was easy for Williams, who gathered it comfortably in to his chest.

Grant Smith then had a wild fling at the ball, pumping it in to the housing estate adjacent to the ground as that elusive clear-cut opportunity remained at arms length for the Cumbrians.

There was real concern in the 37th minute when Joe Garner twisted to make a run at the ball, and he fell heavily with what appeared to be a nasty injury. Some swift treatment from Dolly seemed to do the trick, and he rejoined the pitch none the worse for wear.

The game lost its momentum in the run up to half time, but good tackles were needed from Grant Smith and Danny Livesey just before the break as Crewe found themselves in front of goal. Byron Moore was the recipient of the ball from a swirling corner and, from less than 6 yards out, he forced two world class saves from Westwood as he thundered crisp volleys towards the target. The big keeper showed his agility, throwing himself in the way and averting the danger in style.

Half Time: Crewe 0 - 0 United

Scott Dobie replaced Joe Garner for the start of the second half as the young striker stayed in the dressing room as a precaution following his knee twist in the first half.

Dobie and Horwood caused havoc in the 49th minute, with Danny Graham assisting at the front post, and the poorly cleared cross hung in the air, dropping towards Grant Smith. He had plenty of time to watch it, but he shanked his volley and dragged it wide in the end.

It was a good start to things for Dobie, and he held it up well during the next push forward, bringing Hackney in to play. The nippy left winger went for the top corner, but he was off balance and couldn't find his intended target.

Nicky Maynard took advantage of a ball over the top that skimmed off Murphy's head, shooting early and putting it over the bar by the width of a fingertip. George Abbey then stroked a curling cross in to the box and was disappointed not to see a Crewe shirt attack it as it swung behind for a goal kick.

Crewe were enjoying a decent spell, and Lunt found Moore with a telling cross in the 55th minute, just 8 yards from goal. Livesey was with him, and he did just about enough to force the effort in to the side netting.

Hackney crossed in the 60th minute, getting behind his marker, and Dobie dummied it, hoping that Graham or Taylor would react. The pair were in the box, but it was too far in front of them and Crewe were able to clear.

Ben Williams took his eye off the ball as Scott Dobie bore down on him in the 61st minute, slicing an attempted long kick in to the air and, somehow, behind where he was standing. He could only stand and hope as it spun horribly, and the relief was all too evident as it bobbled inches past his far post, for a corner.

Cleveland Taylor fluffed an excellent opening when the second ball from the corner fell to him in the area when, with him trying to be precise, he clattered the ball in to the ground, pulling it away. Graham tried to make something of it, but it was moving quickly and he had no chance of applying a touch.

An incisive move brought the goal that the Cumbrians deserved in the 64th minute when Taylor skipped clear down the right wing. He sent a dangerous cross in, and Scott Dobie made no mistake as he timed his run and buried it beyond the despairing dive of Ben Williams. Incidentally, it was Dobie's 29th goal for the club, but his first since March 2001 when he scored the winner in a 1-0 win over Macclesfield.

Moore was guilty of yet another glaring miss in the 71st minute when Maynard played him through with a neat header. He had the option of taking it down, but he snatched at it and made it easy for Westwood.

The Alex had free kicks in good positions as they sent men forward, but the defence did their job as the deliveries came in. The game calmed down with United protecting their lead, but Danny Graham made himself a half chance in the 87th minute when he intercepted a poor pass across the back line. A rush of blood to the head brought an early shot, and it was closer to the corner flag than the target he was aiming for in the end.

Keiren Westwood repeated the feats from the end of the first half with a fantastic fingertip save in the 89th minute as Baudet found himself unmarked and with a free header. The Carlisle stopper launched himself, and raised his hand at the last moment, pushing it over.

Crewe were deflated, and calm heads brought the points home as the game in hand took the club in to the automatic promotion places.

Goals

United - Dobie (64)

Bookings

Crewe - Baudet (82)

Teams

Crewe - Wiiliams, Gary Roberts, Baudet, Schumacher (Lowe 85), Maynard, Moore (Pope 72), O'Donnell, Abbey, Boyle, Gary Roberts (loan), Lunt. Subs - Cox, O'Connor, McCready.

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Taylor (Arnison 88), G Smith, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney, Garner (Dobie 46), Graham. Subs - Howarth, J Smith, Lumsdon.

Away fans - tbc

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