Crewe..2 Grimsby..0

YOUTH and experience combined to seal Crewe's most comfortable victory in five seasons of First Division football on Saturday.

The impressive David Vaughan continued his fine start to life in the first team, creating both openings, finished by Geoff Thomas and a Shaun Smith penalty.

Okay, if you weren't there, 2-0 doesn't sound like a whooping but it really could have been five plus without any argument as Crewe have never enjoyed so much freedom to create an abundance of chances since promotion.

For Alex fans the game proved a real throwback to the early 90's when that clinical passing game was clocking up cricket scores in the Third Division.

Within seconds of the whistle Vaughan was racing down the left and picked out Lunt in space down the middle only for a frantic defence to cut the ball clear.

Sodje sent a header inches wide on 9 minutes just before Vaughan engineered the first goal with a fine break down the right flank. He ended by unselfishly squaring to Thomas who tucked the ball away from 12 yards.

It was looking far too easy and Crewe were kicked back into gear as Jevons seized upon a Wright error only to put a poor effort straight at George on 23 minutes.

The Mariners were immediately punished as the referee pointed to the spot after player manager Paul Groves' blatant handball and Smith obliged for a 2-0 lead.

After the break, Jevons always looked their only real chance of a goal and his cheeky overhead kick almost found one, nearly knocking the woodwork down on the hour mark.

Immediately on the break, Jack came close to a third with a powerful drive that beat keeper Coyne but came back out off the inside of the post to safety.

Crewe were unlucky not to have added further goals in the following ten minutes as Smith's free kick just avoided a boot from the chasing forward pack, Coyne worked wonders to deny Sorvel and Deano put a golden opportunity wide of the target.

Everyone was willing Ashton to break that barren spell but another great effort agonisingly skimmed the far post on 70 minutes.

Crewe's passing game was earning those old cheers for each completion as three vital points were bagged well before full-time against a side who, on this form, will struggle to survive the drop.

Crewe: Bankole, Wright, Smith, Foster, Sodje, Brammer, Thomas (Sorvel 25), Lunt, Vaughan (Rix 75), Ashton, Jack (Tait 88).

Subs not used: Montgomery, McCready.

Attendance - 5,974.