Watford...2 Crewe...1

ECSTASY and then agony within sixty seconds saw Crewe leave Vicarage Road empty handed on Easter Saturday.

David Wright's bizarre own goal set up Watford for a crucial three points in the relegation scrap that threatens to go right down to the wire.

And it was heartbreaking for Alex fans who had barely finished celebrating Dean Ashton's converted penalty when Mahon tore at the defence from the restart and set up Cook.

Foster scrambled to clear his low cross, straight into the body of Wright with the deflection ending up in the back of the net.

Almost unbelievable, another uphill task now loomed.

To be honest though Crewe never looked like breaking that 50-point barrier all afternoon.

With the stakes so high, perhaps tension took its toll on both sides in a dismal first half.

Dave Brammer was back in the starting line-up for the first time in nearly six months and almost gave them the perfect start as his lofted pass had keeper Chamberlain dithering, allowing Ashton to put a header past him but the wrong side of the upright.

That was pretty much that as the Alex failed to make any real impact with both Vaughan and Hignett clearly struggling in the attacking stakes.

Watford had been nervy early on but their confidence grew as the visitors toiled and took the lead on the half-hour mark.

A decent move involved Mahon and Helguson with Hyde seeing his first effort blocked but the rebound fell kindly to give Williams no chance on the second attempt.

Boss Dario Gradi decided enough was enough and brought on Steve Jones with seven minutes to go and it almost paid off in first-half stoppage time.

The Northern Ireland international raced forward to meet Ashton's flick on but dragged his effort past the far post.

Mahon hit the side netting in an end-to-end spell to start the second-half but Watford were struggling to cope with the pace of Jonah who forced Chamberlain into a near post save before earning the leveller.

Cook clearly tripped him in the box and Ashton stepped up to bury the spot kick for his 16th goal of the season.

Disaster struck almost instantly and Alex heads visibly dropped through Wright's cruel own-goal on 59 minutes.

Williams kept them in it with more fine work to push sub Bouzza's drive onto the bar and then deny the same player with another class save as Watford got a grip on proceedings

Crewe kept going though and exerted some late pressure without reward as the home side clung on to a massive three points in a relegation battle that is likely to involve both sides over the next few weeks.

Crewe: Williams, Wright, B Jones, Moses, Foster, Lunt, Brammer (Cochrane 83), Sorvel, Vaughan (S Jones 38), Ashton, Hignett (Symes 79).

Subs not used: Bankole, McCready.

Attendance - 18,041.

Guardian Man-of-the-Match: Dave Brammer - strong return in the middle.