Crewe Alex - 1 Grimsby Town - 1

NEIL Sorvel rescued a point for the Alex with a great finish, five minutes from time, to preserve their unbeaten run in Friday's encounter with Grimsby.

Dario Gradi kept faith with the central defensive partnership of Mark Foran and on-loan Steve Wright and they were certainly busier than their compatriots over the ninety minutes.

Both sides failed to find any rhythm in the early stages and although Colin Cramb looked lively, all his half chances went straight into keeper Danny Coyne's hands.

The Alex should have taken the lead through Foran on 28 minutes as Smith swung Crewe's first corner into the area, giving the big man a free header that he put wide from four yards.

For all Crewe's positive possession they seemed unable to carve any clear opportunities and despite a tough battle with Steve Wright, Mariners striker Jack Leicester looked increasingly dangerous in a strong finish by Grimsby going into the interval.

Crewe failed to hear the alarm bells ringing with Leicester's threating runs ever increasing in the second half and the Mariners took a deserved lead on 53 minutes.

Right back John McDermott played a smart one-two with Lee Ashcroft on the edge of Crewe's box and fired a low shot Kearton could only parry away to Leicester who pounced on the easy rebound.

With the Alex defence rattled, Grimsby received far too many chances to add to their total and Leicester had two more efforts that went just wide of the target.

Fifteen minutes remained and the outcome seemed a certainty but suddenly Crewe were transformed and began a frantic search for an equaliser, with fans wishing they had played with the same vigour for the entire match.

Perseverance paid off in the 85th minute as Sorvel completed an inch perfect passing display from Crewe with a rasping drive from ten yards that flew into the back of the net.

Crewe pressed forward but Kearton was forced into a good save from Ashcroft deep into injury time to make sure the undefeated run remained intact.

On-loan Steve Wright set to reach new heights in his man-of-the-match performance against Grimsby on Friday.

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