CREWE FC's eight match unbeaten run was ended with a 4-2 defeat against Rylands, last Saturday.

Trailing early on, the home side were back in it on 25 minutes after Hilditch was brought down and John Griffiths hammered home the resulting penalty.

But Rylands restored the advantage before the break and it got worse as Crewe keeper Steve Harding conceded an early second-half penalty they put away.

Chris Pritchard handed Crewe a lifeline with a backpost header on the hour mark but Rylands wrapped it with a sloppy goal ten minutes later.

Boss Ian O'Reilly was disappointed to see the run go in such fashion:

"It was a poor game in general, even if we'd won 4-2.

"We didn't play well and we got what we deserved. We've been unbeaten for a while and I think we've got a bit lax."

Injuries continue to ease with Gary Wood, Liam O'Reilly and John Beresford all in contention for Saturday's trip to Alsager in the semi-final of the Crewe Cup.